Inhaled corticosteroids for asthma: Are ED visits a missed opportunity forprevention?

Inhaled corticosteroids are effective but underused, This study evaluated t he outpatient management of emergency department (ED) patients presenting w ith acute asthma and the relation of inhaled corticosteroid use to the pati ent's primary care provider (PCP) status, ED patients were interviewed by t he hospital's asthma education program staff about their asthma, Overall, 8 5% (101 of 119) of asthmatics reported having a PCP, Although patients with a PCP and patients without a PCP both were using inhaled beta-agonists (93 % v 89%, respectively; P = .54), patients with out a PCP were less likely t o be using inhaled corticosteroids (49% v 11%, P = .003), Controlling for a ge, acute asthma severity, and asthma hospitalizations during the past year , PCP status remained a significant predictor of inhaled corticosteroid use (adds ratio = 5.6; 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 27), Even among ED patie nts with a PCP, inhaled corticosteroids appear to be underused, ED asthma v isits present an opportunity to initiate preventive measures such as inhale d corticosteroid use. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.