Volume 19 Issue 1 March 2010Original Research
Prescribing of asthma medication in primary care for
children aged under 10
Pages 28-34
*Siebrig Schokker, Feikje Groenhof, Willem Jan van der Veen, Thys van der Molen
Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Received 17 June 2008 • Accepted 11 April 2009 • Online 6 August 2009
Abstract
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
≤1 year. Children with prescriptions for β2-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids were more likely to continue treatment than children with
β2-agonist monotherapy prescriptions.
CONCLUSION: 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.
Keywords
Asthma, paediatrics, primary care, medications, prescriptions
* Corresponding author. Siebrig Schokker Tel: +31 50 3632951 Fax: +31 50 3632964 Email: s.schokker@med.umcg.nl | |
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