TY - JOUR
T1 - Asthma medication use in infancy: determinants related to prescription of drug therapy
AU - Koster, Ellen S.
AU - van der Ent, Cornelis K.
AU - Uiterwaal, Cuno S. P. M.
AU - Verheij, Theo J. M.
AU - Raaijmakers, Jan A. M.
AU - Maitland-van der Zee, Anke-Hilse
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Objective. To describe factors related to the initiation and refill of asthma therapy in infancy. Methods. This study included 1202 infants who participated in a prospective birth cohort study: the 'Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER)'. Outcomes, asthma therapy initiation and refill, were assessed using prescription data. Logistic regression analysis was used to study determinants of therapy initiation in two groups: total population and infants with a respiratory system symptom diagnosis. In addition, determinants of refilling prescriptions were studied in infants who started therapy in their first year of life. Results. Fifteen per cent of all infants started asthma therapy in their first year of life. Respiratory symptoms were an important driver of both initiation and refill of prescriptions. In the total population, therapy initiation was associated with male gender [odds ratio (OR): 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-2.6], day-care attendance (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.5) and breastfeeding (OR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.3-1.0). For infants with a respiratory system symptom diagnosis, day-care attendance was associated with an increased chance of therapy initiation (OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.8-16.2) and breastfeeding was associated with a lower chance of starting therapy (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.1-1.1). Dutch children had a higher chance of refilling prescriptions in infancy (OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.1-26.8). Conclusions. Apart from other factors involved, the principal reason for initiation and refill of asthma therapy in infancy was the presence of respiratory symptoms. This appeared the only reason to prescribe medication and physicians are not distracted by other factors
AB - Objective. To describe factors related to the initiation and refill of asthma therapy in infancy. Methods. This study included 1202 infants who participated in a prospective birth cohort study: the 'Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER)'. Outcomes, asthma therapy initiation and refill, were assessed using prescription data. Logistic regression analysis was used to study determinants of therapy initiation in two groups: total population and infants with a respiratory system symptom diagnosis. In addition, determinants of refilling prescriptions were studied in infants who started therapy in their first year of life. Results. Fifteen per cent of all infants started asthma therapy in their first year of life. Respiratory symptoms were an important driver of both initiation and refill of prescriptions. In the total population, therapy initiation was associated with male gender [odds ratio (OR): 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-2.6], day-care attendance (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.5) and breastfeeding (OR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.3-1.0). For infants with a respiratory system symptom diagnosis, day-care attendance was associated with an increased chance of therapy initiation (OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.8-16.2) and breastfeeding was associated with a lower chance of starting therapy (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.1-1.1). Dutch children had a higher chance of refilling prescriptions in infancy (OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.1-26.8). Conclusions. Apart from other factors involved, the principal reason for initiation and refill of asthma therapy in infancy was the presence of respiratory symptoms. This appeared the only reason to prescribe medication and physicians are not distracted by other factors
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmr002
DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmr002
M3 - Article
C2 - 21292627
SN - 0263-2136
VL - 28
SP - 377
EP - 384
JO - Family Practice
JF - Family Practice
IS - 4
ER -