The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60531

William G. Johnson, PhD and Amy M. Bartels, MPH. School of Health Administration and Policy and Department of Economics, Arizona State University, Box 874506, Tempe, AZ 85287-4506, 480-965-7442, william.g.johnson@asu.edu

Introduction: This study uses micro-data from a unique community health data system (YCHDS) to compare patterns of health care utilization among hospital inpatient, hospital emergency department, pediatric physicians and community health centers for a three-year period for children with an emergency room visit in 1999 with a primary diagnosis of asthma. YCHDS contains individual records on approximately 63,000 children in a rural Mexican border community who utilized care in the years 1999 through 2002. Methods: After identifying patients with asthma we study the treatment received and use a logistic regression model to measure the influence of predictor variables including age, sex, race, geographic distribution and insurance type. Principal Findings: In 1999, 1,158 children in the YCHDS had at least one visit with a diagnosis of asthma. 657 of those children had at least one visit to the emergency department (8 percent of ER visits). Children who remained in the county were followed for three additional years. We are currently finalizing the results using multiple regression models to analyze the data. Conclusion: Asthma is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children and has been associated with high rates of emergency department utilization. The use of longitudinal data from a community data system provides detailed data for several years on the care provided to children. The community health data system model offers the advantage of following individuals over time and providing extensive information on the type and quantity of health care utilized by the persons included in the data.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Describe the methods used to create a community health system
• 2.Articulate how to use administrative data to examine individual patterns of care

Keywords: Asthma, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.