Childhood Asthma – The Effect of Asthma Specialist Intervention on Asthma Control: A Retrospective Review

BACKGROUND: Childhood asthma is the most common chronic disease throughout the western world. Improving asthma control is a leading health management goal. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of an intervention by a visit to an asthma specialist on asthma control in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted using the electronic database of Maccabi Health Services. All members ages 5–16 with an asthma diagnosis during 2000–2016, and at least one visit to a specialist were included. Asthma outcomes during the 2 years before and after the visit to the asthma specialist were compared. RESULTS: A total of 37,066 children were diagnosed with asthma. Among them, 13,533 (36.5%) had at least one visit to an asthma specialist and were included. Children with asthma visited their primary care physician more often in the period before the specialist visit (4.4± 4.4 vs 3.16± 3.9 visits, respectively; p<0.01). After visiting a specialist, average number of visits to emergency departments (0.52± 1.3 vs 0.45±1), all cause hospitalizations (0.13±0.45 vs 0.08±0.4) and hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbations (0.08±0.345 vs 0.05±0.3) decreased (p<0.01 for all comparisons). Prescription of short-acting beta agonists decreased (2.85±3.6 vs 2.2 ±3.7, p<0.01) and inhaled steroid prescriptions increased (1.9±2.9 vs 2.7±3.7, p<0.01), respectively, after the intervention. A substantial reduction in the prescription of corticosteroids (0.81±1.9 vs 0.43±1.4, p<0.01) after specialist visit was also noted. CONCLUSION: We found significant positive outcomes after a single consultation with an asthma specialist. Referring pediatric asthma patients to an asthma specialist should be one of the goals of an asthma management plan.