Patient, home residence, and neighborhood characteristics in pediatric emergency department visits for asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To identify patient, home residence, and neighborhood characteristics of children with asthma-related emergency department visits.


METHODS
Medical records of children with one (group A) or more than one (group B) asthma-related pediatric emergency department visit were reviewed.


RESULTS
A significantly higher percentage of group B had Medicaid insurance (p = 0.04), history of asthma-related hospitalizations (p = 0.04), and passive tobacco smoke exposure (p = 0.03). Neighborhood characteristics were similar between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking cessation counseling and close monitoring of patients with a history of asthma-related hospitalizations and patients with Medicaid insurance may be helpful in decreasing emergency department visits.
Wang
Helen C
HC
Division of Allergy and Immunology. Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Nemours Children's Clinic, Wilmington, Delaware 19803, USA.
McGeady
Stephen J
SJ
Yousef
Ejaz
E
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution