Prescribing of asthma medication in primary care for children aged under 10.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate prescriptions of asthma medication for children in primary care.


METHODS
Data on prescriptions of asthma medication for children aged 0-9 years were collected from a general practice-based network in the north eastern part of the Netherlands. Prevalence, incidence, indications, continuation beyond the age of 6 years, and predictors of continuation, were determined.


RESULTS
Prevalence of prescriptions was about 80 per 1000 person years. An asthma diagnosis was registered in 40% of the children with a first prescription and in 70% of the children with six or more prescriptions. Discontinuation of asthma medication was between 60 and 90%. Continuation was more likely in children with a first prescription at age 2 or 3 as compared to children starting treatment at age < or =1 year. Children with prescriptions for beta2-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids were more likely to continue treatment than children with beta2-agonist monotherapy prescriptions.


CONCLUSIONS
Continuation of asthma medication in children is low. Age at first prescription and the type of asthma medication are predictors of continuation of asthma medication from preschool into school-age.
Schokker
Siebrig
S
Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Netherlands. s.schokker@med.umcg.nl
Groenhof
Feikje
F
van der Veen
Willem Jan
WJ
van der Molen
Thys
T
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017677:Age Distribution; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012042:Registries
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs