Objectives. To describe the 1998 asthma discharges in Virginia by county, age, gender, race, income, education, insurance status, poverty level, number of physician and hospital beds per 1,000 population. Methods. Using 493.00, 493.01, 493.10, 493.11, 493.20, 493.21, 493.90 and 493.91 ICD-9-CM codes, we selected data from the 1998 Virginia Health Information (VHI) discharge databases. Virginia county specific data were taken from the 1998 Area Resource File (ARF). Small Area Analysis was used to determine the extent of variation between counties for asthma admissions. Results. In 1998, there were a total of 9439 asthma discharges in Virginia. Discharges were more prevalent among females (61%) and Caucasians (48%). Asthma discharge rate in Virginia in 1998 was 1.5 per 1,000 population. Overall females had higher asthma discharge rates (1.8 per 1,000) than males (1.2 per 1,000), and African Americans had higher asthma discharge rates (2.9 per 1,000) than Caucasians (0.9 per 1,000). Asthma discharge rates were significantly higher in counties with a fewer hospitals and physicians and higher number of Medicaid recipients and population under 100% poverty (p<0.05). Counties with the highest asthma discharge rates were located in Central Virginia. Northern counties in Virginia had the lowest asthma discharge rates. Conclusions. Asthma discharge variations by counties may be due to physical access, i.e. primary care and hospital availability, or economic access, i.e. insurance and education levels. Comprehensive asthma management programs are needed to improve access and quality of medical services, education, family and community support, environmental and policy initiatives.
Learning Objectives: 1. Understand asthma discharges and health care delivery systems in Virginia's counties. 2. Describe asthma discharge rate variations by county and understand small area analysis. 3. List three indicators that increase asthma discharge rates in Virginia counties
Keywords: Asthma, Hospitals
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.