Health service use among children with and without eczema, asthma, and hay fever

Abstract

BackgroundAtopic diseases, for example, eczema, asthma, and hay fever, are among the most common chronic diseases of childhood. Knowledge on health service use among children with atopic disease is limited. This study aimed to investigate the total use and costs of health services for children with and without eczema, asthma, and hay fever in a Danish general population.MethodsWe conducted a health survey with four complete birth cohorts from the City of Copenhagen. Individual questionnaire data on eczema, asthma, and hay fever for children aged 3, 6, 11, and 15 years were linked to register information on use and costs of health services and prescribed medication and parental education. In total 9,720 children participated (50.5%).ResultsWe found increased health service use (number of additional consultations per year [95% confidence interval]) among children with current eczema symptoms (1.77 [1.29–2.26]), current asthma symptoms (2.53 [2.08–2.98]), and current hay fever symptoms (1.21 [0.74–1.67]), compared with children without these symptoms. We also found increased use of prescribed medication and most subtypes of health services. Current asthma symptoms and current eczema symptoms, but not current hay fever symptoms, increased the health service costs with at least €300 per year per child.ConclusionChildren with eczema, asthma, and hay fever used health services and prescribed medication more than children without these diseases.

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

“…These findings are in agreement with other studies 3–10 that also concluded that atopic children utilised more health care; however, this study extended those findings by examining whether the extra consultations are a result of a child’s specific AD or are due to other symptoms or diseases. Based on the present study, <50% of the extra consultations can be explained by atopic eczema, asthma, and AR-related consultations.…”

“…A recent study, based on health surveys, showed that children with atopic eczema, asthma, and AR used more healthcare resources than children without these disorders. 3 When studying healthcare utilisation in a general practice setting, a diagnosis based on a physician’s assessment, such as that of a GP, provides more realistic results than questionnaire-based diagnoses, and therefore should be preferred. 1 Previous studies examining healthcare utilisation of atopic children were often conducted in different clinical settings (for example, birth cohorts).…”

“…1 Previous studies examining healthcare utilisation of atopic children were often conducted in different clinical settings (for example, birth cohorts). Also, whereas most of the studies on healthcare utilisation have focused on asthma, 3–9 only a few focused on atopic eczema 3,10 and AR. 3 All these studies demonstrated that the healthcare utilisation of atopic children is significantly higher compared with non-atopic children.…”

“…Also, whereas most of the studies on healthcare utilisation have focused on asthma, 3–9 only a few focused on atopic eczema 3,10 and AR. 3 All these studies demonstrated that the healthcare utilisation of atopic children is significantly higher compared with non-atopic children. However, to the authors' knowledge, no study has examined to what extent this increased use of healthcare resources reflects extra consultations regarding the ADs, or reflects consultations regarding non-atopic comorbidity (for example, consultations for common symptoms occurring in childhood).…”

Too much? Mortality and health service utilisation among Danish children 1999-2016: A register-based study

“…contacts with general practitioner) or dispensed prescriptions of antibiotics. One study examined these outcomes among Danish children, and found an increased use in children with atopic disease [25]. A descriptive cross-sectional study of health service utilisation and medication use indicated a homogeneity across the five Danish administrative regions [26].…”