Clinical, economic, and humanistic burden of asthma in Canada: a systematic review

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Table 6 Rate of physician visits in Canada

Study	Number of patients	Patient descriptor	Year	Physician visits for asthma^§
*Children*
To et al. 2008 [24]	56,737	0-2 years	1998/1999	2.2
	99,163	3-5 years		1.1
	141,305	6-9 years		0.8
	297,205	Overall		1.2
Ungar et al. 2001 [33]	339	GP	1995	3.6
Ungar et al. 2001 [33]	339	Respiratory specialist	1995	2.1
*Adults*
Boulet et al. 2008 [35]	514	Non-smoker	2004	43% had ≥1
	268	Former smoker		49% had ≥1
	108	Current smoker		47% had ≥1
Lemiere et al. 2007 [25]	351 (WEA: 145, OA: 206)	WRA	2001-2003	4.1(4.3)
Lemiere et al. 2007 [25]	351 (WEA: 145, OA: 206)	NWRA	2001-2003	1.2(1.7)
Sadatsafavi et al. 2010 [10]	158,516	Narrow asthma definition	1996-2000	1.86
Sadatsafavi et al. 2010 [10]	158,516	Broad asthma definition	1996-2000	3.85
Iron et al. 2003 [37]	230*	Asthma patients	1994/1995	4.3**
Sin et al. 2001 [44]	6,254	No ICS (elderly)	1992-1996	3.9(2.2)
Sin et al. 2001 [44]	6,254	ICS (elderly)	1992-1996	4(2.2)
Anis et al. 2001 [38]	4,671	Appropriate use†	1995	14.9(15.9)
Anis et al. 2001 [38]	763	Inappropriate use‡	1995	16.7(19.3)
Anis et al. 2000 [34]	733	Physician visits in ED	1994-1995	1.0(1.3)
Blais et al. 2009 [18]	1264	BUD/FORM	2002-2004	7.5(7.4)
Blais et al. 2009 [18]	1264	FP/SM	2002-2004	7.3(7)
*All ages*
Gershon et al. 2007 [2]	NR	All-cause claims	1994/1995	13.2
			1995/1996	12.5
			1996/1997	12.0
			1997/1998	12.1
			1998/1999	11.9
			1999/2000	11.6
			2000/2001	11.5
			2001/2002	11.2

§ Per patient per year, mean (SD).
*Asthma patients, calculated as 6% of 3830 NPHS responders.
**Median.
†Appropriate use (low-dose SABA + high-dose ICS).
‡Inappropriate use (high-dose SABA + low-dose ICS).
BUD/FORM=budesonide/formoterol, FP/SM=fluticasone propionate/salmeterol, GP=general practitioner, ICS=inhaled corticosteroid, NR=not reported, NWRA=non-work-related asthma, WRA=work-related asthma.

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