Trends in hospital readmission for asthma: has the Australian National Asthma Campaign had an effect?

Abstract

Objectives To describe patterns of hospital readmission for asthma in South Australia from 1989 to 1996, in relation to implementation of the National Asthma Campaign. Design and setting A comparison of hospital admissions in South Australia of patients aged between one year and 49 years for three conditions: asthma (or respiratory failure with asthma as an underlying condition) and two control conditions — diabetes and epilepsy. Individuals were identified by Medicare number and date of birth. Outcome measures Hospital readmission within 28 days and within one year. Results Overall, by 1996, there was a statistically significant decline in the risk of readmission for asthma within 28 days of 18% and within one year of 17% compared with 1989 readmission rates. There were no reductions in the risk of readmission for diabetes or epilepsy, suggesting that the decline in risk of readmission for asthma was greater than the underlying effects of general changes in hospital casemix. Conclusions The decline in risk of readmission may reflect changes in asthma severity or improved management practices. However, hospital readmission rates still remain high, and to further reduce readmissions for asthma there is a need to identify factors related to presentation for asthma at accident and emergency departments.

Post-hospital syndrome in adults with asthma: a case-crossover study

“…Other investigators have assessed the rate of readmission after discharge from a previous asthma-related hospitalization, and factors altering such rates [6,18-21]. But these studies have not attempted to contrast the risk in the post-discharge period with control periods, and thus have not been able to show any change in the risk.…”

Can Australian general practitioners tackle childhood overweight/obesity? Methods and processes from the LEAP (Live, Eat and Play) randomized controlled trial

“…General practitioners have been effective in other health promotion areas, such as smoking, 9 alcohol, 10 adolescent health care 11 . The National Asthma Campaign was successful in both educating GPs and enhancing the asthma management by both GPs and parents, resulting in reduced hospital admission rates and asthma mortality 12,13 . Controlled primary care trials have shown some effectiveness targeting adult overweight, healthy eating and physical activity 14 .…”

“…11 The National Asthma Campaign was successful in both educating GPs and enhancing the asthma management by both GPs and parents, resulting in reduced hospital admission rates and asthma mortality. 12,13 Controlled primary care trials have shown some effectiveness targeting adult overweight, healthy eating and physical activity. 14 However, no reported trials have yet examined the efficacy of GPs in managing childhood overweight and mild obesity, and the feasibility of this approach is unknown.…”

Increasing the hospitalization of asthma in children not in adults – from a national survey in Taiwan 1996–2002

“…In Finland, the median duration of admission was 2.0 days in children (15). In South Australia, it was around 2.8 days for patients 1–49 yr with asthma from 1989 to 1996 (16). In our data, it was 4.4 days in the children group and 2.6 times higher in the adult group.…”

“…The readmission rate declined in Oslo, Norway during the period of 1980 to 1995 as well (18). In Australia, there was also a significant decline in readmission of 17% in the 1990s (16). On the contrary, in Athens, the readmission rate among children 0–14 yr increased from 15.3% to 23.3%, and there were no significant differences between the younger and older groups (5).…”