Child Characteristics and Results From the Univariate Analyses
| Child Characteristics | Children Without an Asthma Prescription (n = 42,997) | Children Prescribed Asthma Medication (n = 3,374) | OR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CI = confidence interval; GP = general practitioner; ICPC = International Classification for Primary Care; OR = odds ratio; URTI = upper respiratory tract infection. | |||
| a Significant values P<.05. | |||
| b Average number of prescriptions issued per patient during 1 year. | |||
| c Average number of contacts with GP during 1 year. | |||
| d Referrals for respiratory complaints/diseases or to a lung specialist. | |||
| e Dichotomous variables of the ICPC codes R02 (shortness of breath/dyspnea), R03 (wheezing), R05 (cough), R74 (acute upper respiratory tract infection), R78 (acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis), R81 (pneumonia), R96 (asthma), and R97 (allergic rhinitis). | |||
| Mean age (SD; range), y | 9.1 (4.8; 1–17) | 7.7 (4.9; 1–17) | 0.94a (0.93–0.95) |
| Age <6 y, No. (%) | 11,948 (25.8) | 1,386 (41.1) | 1.82a (1.69–1.96) |
| Sex, male, No. (%) | 21,798 (50.7) | 1,922 (57.0) | 1.29a (1.20–1.39) |
| Antibiotic prescriptions, No. (SD; range)b | 0.2 (0.6; 0–13) | 0.6 (1.0; 0–12) | 1.85a (1.77–1.93) |
| Oral corticosteroid prescriptions, No. (SD; range)b | 0.003 (0.11 ;0–12) | 0.046 (0.26;0–5) | 4.69a (3.59–6.12) |
| Contacts with GP, No. (SD; range)c | 2.1 (2.6; 0–35) | 5.2 (4.0; 0–34) | 1.30a (1.29–1.31) |
| Children with 0 contacts in registration year, No. (%) | 13,786 (32.1) | 129 (3.8) | — |
| Referrals, No. (%)d | 93 (0.3) | 94 (3.6) | 13.0a (12.2–13.9) |
| Registered diseases and complaints,e No. (%) | |||
| Asthma | 227 (0.5) | 1,739 (51.5) | 260a (221–305) |
| Shortness of breath/dyspnea | 92 (0.2) | 144 (4.3) | 21.1a (15.9–28.1) |
| Wheezing | 16 (0.0) | 63 (1.9) | 55.2a (30.7–99.2) |
| Cough | 2082 (4.8) | 873 (25.9) | 6.90a (6.26–7.59) |
| Acute bronchitis/ bronchiolitis | 769 (1.8) | 622 (18.4) | 13.5a (11.9–15.3) |
| Acute URTI | 3,267 (7.6) | 674 (20.0) | 3.06a (2.78–3.38) |
| Pneumonia | 241 (0.6) | 133 (3.9) | 7.24a (5.74–9.15) |
| Allergic rhinitis | 1,029 (2.4) | 252 (7.5) | 3.24a (2.78–3.77) |