Hospitalizations for asthma: impact of a program for the control of asthma and allergic rhinitis in Feira de Santana, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of the Programa de Controle da Asma e Rinite Alérgica em Feira de Santana (ProAR-FS, Program for the Control of Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis in Feira de Santana) on the frequency of hospitalizations for asthma in patients monitored at a referral center for one year.


METHODS
This was a historical control study involving 253 consecutive patients with asthma, ages ranging from 4 to 76 years. We compared the frequency of hospital admissions and visits to the emergency room (ER) in the 12 months prior to and after their admission to the ProAR-FS. During the program, patients received free treatment, including inhaled medications and education on asthma. Demographic and socioeconomic aspects were also assessed.


RESULTS
There was a significant reduction in the number of hospitalizations (465 vs. 21) and of visits to the ER (2,473 vs. 184) after their admission to ProAR-FS (p < 0.001 for both). Of the 253 patients who had been hospitalized and had had ER visits within the year prior to the admission to ProAR-FS, only 16 were hospitalized and 92 visited the ER during the follow-up year, representing a reduction of 94% and 64%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementing a referral center for the treatment of asthma and rhinitis in the Unified Health Care System, with the free distribution of inhaled corticosteroids and the support of an education program, is a highly effective strategy for the control of asthma.
Brandão
Heli Vieira
HV
Department of Pediatrics, Feira de Santana State University, Feira de Santana, Brazil. helivb@terra.com.br
Cruz
Constança Margarida Sampaio
CM
Santos
Ivan da Silva
Ida S
Ponte
Eduardo Vieira
EV
Guimarães
Armênio
A
Augusto Filho
Alvaro
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult