Abstract
A recent (2010) population-based questionnaire survey of 4535 children aged 5-15 years in Katowice District, Poland yielded 186 cases (3.9%) of physician-diagnosed asthma. In the last 12 months 5.9% of asthmatic children underwent respiratory hospitalization and 44.0% were seen by physician, 30.6% had spirometry, and 24.7% skin prick tests, and all of those outcomes strongly depended on asthma attacks in the last 12 months. The goal of the study was to find out if other than health-related factors could also explain the examined outcomes. In univariate analyses hospitalization was related to age (p=0.007), medical visits to age (p=0.009), spirometry to rural residence (p=0.007), skin prick tests to age (p=0.001) and number of siblings (p=0.01). The identified correlates were tested by a multivariate regression - the table shows logistic Odds Ratios (and 95% CIs) if p=<0.1:
Clinical status of asthmatic children and their young age are important determinants of utilization of medical care and diagnostic procedures. The effect of rural residence and family size may reflect a better maternal care over a sick child and/or better compliance with medical advice – in both settings (rural and urban) diagnostic tests require time consuming arrangements with specialized centers, usually located at a distance from family physicians' surgeries.
- © 2011 ERS
