The Danish National Database for Asthma.
Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease in children, adolescents, and young adults. In Denmark (with a population of 5.6 million citizens), >400,000 persons are prescribed antiasthmatic medication annually. However, undiagnosed cases, dubious diagnoses, and poor asthma management are probably common. The Danish National Database for Asthma (DNDA) was established in 2015. The aim of the DNDA was to collect the data on all patients treated for asthma in Denmark and to monitor asthma occurrence, the quality of diagnosis, and management.


METHODS
Persons above the age of 6 years, with a specific focus on 6-44 years, are included. The DNDA links three existing nationwide registries of administrative records in the Danish health care system: the National Patient Register, the National Health Insurance Services Register, and the National Prescription Registry. For each year, the inclusion criteria are a second purchase of asthma prescription medicine within a 2-year period (National Prescription Registry) or a diagnosis of asthma (National Patient Register). Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are excluded, but smokers are not excluded.
A total of 366,471 prevalent patients with asthma have been identified (year 2014 - as a preliminary test search). This number is in agreement with the estimates of ~400,000 inhabitants that are available for patients with possible asthma in Denmark. Data encompass the following quality indicators: annual asthma control visits and pharmacological therapy.


METHODS
The variables included are spirometry, as well as tools for diagnosis (including allergy testing), smoking status, height, weight, and acute hospital admissions and unscheduled visits.


CONCLUSIONS
DNDA is available from January 1, 2016.
Department of Respiratory Medicine L, Bispebjerg Frederiskberg University Hospital, Copenhagen.
Vibeke
V
Backer
Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense.
Jesper
J
Lykkegaard
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Næstved Hospital, Næstved; Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark.
Uffe
U
Bodtger
Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense.
Lone
L
Agertoft
Competence Centre for Clinical Quality and Information Technology West (KCKS West), Aarhus.
Lene
L
Korshoej
Research Center for Prevention and Health, Center for Health, Glostrup Hospital, Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Elvira Vaclavik
EV
Braüner
asthma control; asthma management; hospital data; indicator; prescription data