Abstract

ALMEIDA, A Bugalho de; COVAS, A; PRATES, L  and  FRAGOSO, E. Asthma hospital admission and mortality in mainland Portugal 2000-2007. Rev Port Pneumol [online]. 2009, vol.15, n.3, pp.367-383. ISSN 0873-2159.

We conducted a review of asthma hospital admissions in mainland Portugal 2000-2007 to evaluate if one of the aims of the National Asthma Control Programme, a 20% reduction in hospital admissions in children and adolescents in 2007, had been achieved. Using the Health Services Central Administration data base we reviewed 24271 admissions and saw that 48.7% of patients admitted were aged under 19 years old and that 61.8% were aged 40 years old or under. Mean global annual asthma hospital admission rate was 30.79 per 100 000 inhabitants. Mean global hospital stay was 5.94 days, range 2.93- 9.73 days, depending on the age group. We saw a drop in admission in both the northern and the Lisbon and Tagus Valley regions over the 8 year period. 189 patients died, 25 of who were aged 40 years old or under. The mortality rate ranged from 0.162 in 2002 to 0.324 per 100 000 inhabitants in 2005, with a mean patient death of 0.77 patients per 100 admissions. Mean annual costs were in excess of €3.3 million, meaning an estimated annual financial asthma burden of around €117.5 million in Portugal. We concluded that many asthma sufferers in Portugal do have sufficient disease controlled. Improved management would equal better quality of life and reduced disease costs.

Keywords : Bronchial asthma; costs; hospital admission; mortality.

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