A Gap Between Asthma Guidelines and Management for Adolescents and Young Adults

• BackgroundFor adolescents, asthma management can be challenging during the transition to adulthood, and changes in health care and pharmacological treatment may occur.ObjectiveTo investigate asthma-related health care consumption and pharmacological dispensation during the transition process.MethodsIn a Swedish birth cohort study, questionnaire and clinical data from the 16- and 24-year follow-ups were linked to national and regional registries for asthma-related health care consumption and dispensed medications during an 8-year period: 4 years before and after age 18 y, respectively.ResultsIn the study population (n = 1808), 14% fulfilled the study definition of current asthma at the 16- and 24-year follow-up and 8% (n = 147) had persistent asthma. Among them, register data showed that in the 4-year period before their 18th birthday, 39% (58 of 147) had at least 1 consultation, similar to 37% (55 of 147) in the following 4-year period. The mean number of consultations before age 18 years was 1.6, compared with 1.0 after age 18 years (P = .02). At least 1 dispensation of any inhaled corticosteroid before age 18 years was found for 73% (107 of 147), compared with 50% (74 of 147) after age 18 years. The mean number of dispensed any inhaled corticosteroid was 3.1 before 18 years and 2.1 after 18 years (P < .01). Only 3% (5 of 147) had a regular dispensation of any inhaled corticosteroid once a year during the 8-year period.ConclusionsHealth care consultations were fewer than recommended in guidelines and decreased after the transition to adult health care. Almost no one had dispensed regular asthma medications during the 8-year period.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adolescents

Adult health care

Birth cohort

Guidelines

Level of care

Management

Pediatric and adult health care

Phenotypes

Severity

Young adults

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)