VARIATIONS IN THE USE OF MEDICATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA IN THE MICHIGAN MEDICAID POPULATION, 1980 TO 1986

Asthma is a leading cause of morbidity in the United States and is a l eading cause of disability in children. Prevalence has been shown to b e highest in male children, blacks, and urban residents. Racial and re sidential differences have been attributed to economics. Medicaid clai ms data allow for the comparison of asthma morbidity and treatment of patients with different demography but of low socioeconomic status. Mi chigan Medicaid claims data for recipient children between 5 and 14 ye ars of age were used to ascertain demographic factors associated with asthma treatment from 1980 through 1986. A cross-sectional analysis wa s used. Black asthmatics were found to receive medical care more frequ ently, but to obtain asthma drugs less frequently than other groups. T he prevalence of different prescription asthma preparations also varie d by race and residence. Black, urban residents obtained fixed-combina tion drugs more frequently and steroids less frequently than other gro ups. Rural patients, in general, had fewer medical contacts but obtain ed more prescription products per provider contact, whether black or w hite. Possible reasons for this variation are discussed.