Race and sex differences in consistency of care with national asthma guidelines in managed care organizations

Background: In the United States, morbidity from asthma disproportionately affects African Americans and women. Although inadequate care contributes t o overall asthma morbidity, less is known about differences in asthma care by race and sex. Subjects and Methods: To examine the relationships of race and sex with ast hma care, we analyzed responses to questionnaires administered to adults en rolled in 16 managed care organizations participating in the Outcomes Manag ement System Asthma Study between September and December 1993. Indicators o f care consistent with National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (19 91) recommendations were assessed. Of a random sample of 8640 patients aske d to participate, 6612 (77%) completed the survey. This study focused on 50 62 (14% African American, 72% women) patients with at least moderate asthma symptom severity. Results: Fewer African Americans than whites reported care consistent with recommendations for medication use (eg, daily inhaled corticosteroid use, 3 4.9% vs 54.4%; P = .001), self-management education (eg, action plan, 42.0% vs 53.8%; P = .001), avoiding triggers (37.6% vs 53.6%; P = .001), and spe cialist care (28.3% vs 41.0%; P = .001). Differences in asthma care by sex were smaller and tended to favor women except for daily inhaled corticoster oid use (women vs men: 49.6% vs 58.3%; P = .001) and having specialist care (37.7% vs 43.1%; P = .001). Similar race and sex differences were observed after adjusting for age, education, employment, and symptom frequency. Conclusions: Even among patients with health insurance, disparities in asth ma care for African Americans compared with whites exist and may contribute to race disparities in outcomes. Women generally reported better asthma ca re but may benefit from greater use of inhaled corticosteroids.