Journal article
Geographic variation in inhaled corticosteroid use for children with persistent asthma in Medicaid
Journal of Asthma, Vol.55(8), pp.851-858
08/03/2018
DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2017.1362428
PMID: 28800267
Abstract
Objective: Geographic variation in the rates of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use for children with persistent asthma in Medicaid has been reported, but the source of this variation is unknown. The objective of this study was to quantify the geographic variation in ICS use for children with persistent asthma in Medicaid that remains after adjusting for the characteristics of children in an area. Methods: Data from the 2005-2007 Medicaid Analytic eXtract files were used. Frequent fills of short-acting beta
2
-agonist (SABA) were used to identify children 5-18 years of age with persistent asthma across the United States. A child was considered to have used an ICS if the child initially filled an ICS following frequent SABA use. Areas were determined using published methods, and the unadjusted ICS rate and the area treatment ratio for ICS, which adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics, were calculated for each area. Results: Of 15,917 children, 13% used an ICS. The median unadjusted ICS rate for all areas was 10% but ranged from 0% to 64%. ICS use was less than expected for more than half of the areas based on the characteristics of the children in the area, but use was nearly five times what was expected in some areas. Areas with higher than expected ICS use were found contiguous to areas with lower than expected use. Conclusions: Geographic variation in ICS not attributable to the demographic and clinical characteristics of the children in an area exists and could prove useful in the struggle to reduce asthma exacerbation rates.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Geographic variation in inhaled corticosteroid use for children with persistent asthma in Medicaid
- Creators
- Amber M Goedken - Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of IowaJohn M Brooks - Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South CarolinaGary Milavetz - Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of IowaNicholas J Rudzianski - Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of IowaElizabeth A Chrischilles - Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of Asthma, Vol.55(8), pp.851-858
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- DOI
- 10.1080/02770903.2017.1362428
- PMID
- 28800267
- ISSN
- 0277-0903
- eISSN
- 1532-4303
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/03/2018
- Academic Unit
- Pharmacy; Epidemiology; Surgery; Pharmacy Practice and Science
- Record Identifier
- 9983995062102771
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