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. 2018 Apr 7;2(1):bjgpopen18X101349.
doi: 10.3399/bjgpopen18X101349. eCollection 2018 Apr.

Increased healthcare utilisation among atopic children in a general practice database: a nested index-control study

David Hj Pols  1 , Mark Mj Nielen  2 , Arthur M Bohnen  3 , Joke C Korevaar  4 , Patrick Je Bindels  5
Affiliations

Increased healthcare utilisation among atopic children in a general practice database: a nested index-control study

David Hj Pols et al. BJGP Open. .

Abstract

Background: Atopic eczema, asthma, and allergic rhinitis (AR) create a serious burden on general practice resources.

Aim: To investigate the use of general practice resources (that is, consultation visits, telephone contacts, and home visits) in children with physician-diagnosed atopic disorders (ADs).

Design & setting: In a nested index-control study design, all children (here defined as individuals aged 2-18 years) listed in a representative general practice database were selected in 2014.

Method: Children diagnosed with ADs were matched on age and sex with non-atopic controls within the same practice. For all the different groups, the number and frequency of children contacting the GP were calculated.

Results: Of the children with atopic eczema (n = 15 202), 80% consulted the GP in 2014 (controls = 67%). Of the children with asthma (n = 7754), 80% consulted the GP (controls = 65%), and for children with AR (n = 6710), this was 82% (controls = 66%). Of the children with all three ADs, 91% consulted the GP (controls = 68%). On average, a child with atopic eczema contacted the GP 2.8 times/year (controls = 1.9); for children with asthma, the contact frequency was 3.0 (controls = 1.9); and for AR, 3.2 (controls = 1.9). For children with all three ADs, the contact frequency was 4.3 (controls = 2.0). Consultations related to the ADs investigated only explain a smaller part of the increased healthcare utilisation in atopic children.

Conclusion: Atopic children use more general practice resources compared to non-atopic children, yet frequently for morbidity or other health-related questions not related to one of the ADs.

Keywords: allergic rhinitis; asthma; atopic eczema; epidemiology; general practice; healthcare utilisation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

References

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