PHYSICIAN-DIAGNOSED ASTHMA AND DRUG UTILIZATION IN THE EUROPEAN-COMMUNITY RESPIRATORY HEALTH SURVEY

The aim of this analysis was to estimate the geographical variation in the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma and treatment practice f or asthma in young adults, The results are based on an ecological anal ysis of 34 centres in 14 countries, in which a total of 17,029 randoml y selected subjects (52% females, age 20-48 yrs) underwent a structure d interview and spirometry as part of the European Community Respirato ry Health Survey, The sample was enriched with 2,903 symptomatic subje cts when investigating treatment in subjects with physician-diagnosed asthma. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was highest in Ne w Zealand and Australia (11-13%) and lowest in Erfurt, Germany (1.2%) and Spain (1.5-3.0%), The reported use of antiasthma medication in the last 12 months was also highest in New Zealand and Australia (12-16%) and correlated closely with the prevalence of diagnosed asthma (r=0.8 9, p<0,001), Herbal remedies against breathing problems had been used by 13% of subjects in Hamburg but the reported use of alternative reme dies for breathing problems was low in most other centres, The use of inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs in subjects with physician-diagnosed a sthma ranged from 49% in the UK to 17% in Italy and correlated with th e prevalence of doctors' consultations within the last 12 months (r=0, 66, p<0,05), The prevalence of anti-inflammatory treatment was positiv ely related to the prevalence of nocturnal asthma symptoms (p<0,05). W e conclude that there is a wide geographical variation in the prevalen ce of physician-diagnosed asthma and use of antiasthma medication, The geographical variation in the use of anti-inflammatory drugs among in dividuals with diagnosed asthma may be related to variations in asthma severity, as well as differences in treatment practices between count ries.