Cigarette smoking and emergency care utilization among asthmatic adults in the 2011 Asthma Call-back Survey. (9th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khokhawalla, Sophie A.; Rosenthal, Samantha R.; Pearlman, Deborah N.; Triche, Elizabeth W.
• Is Part Of: Journal of asthma. Volume 52:Number 7(2015)
• Page Start: 732
• Page End: 739
• Publication Date: 2015-08-09
• Subjects: Emergency department -- healthcare costs -- tobacco use -- uncontrolled asthma -- urgent care; Asthma -- Periodicals; 616.238005
• DOI: 10.3109/02770903.2015.1004337
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-0903

Abstract

Abstract: Objective : Estimate the association between smoking and emergency care in the past 12 months among asthmatic adults in a nationally representative sample. Methods : Using the 2011 Asthma Call-Back Survey, the association between smoking status and emergency department (ED) and urgent visits among asthmatic adults ( n = 12 339) was assessed through multivariable logistic regression by a cross-sectional study design. Analyses used survey weights for US population-based estimates. Attributable and population attributable risk were calculated to describe the potential benefits of smoking cessation. Results : Adjusting for potential confounders, during the past 12 months former smokers had 1.30 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.74) times the odds and current smokers had 1.46 (95% CI: 1.05, 2.03) times the odds of visiting the ED compared to never smokers. Former smokers had 1.28 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.65) times the odds and current smokers had 1.29 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.73) times the odds of urgent visits compared to never smokers. Among adult asthmatics, an estimated 9% of ED visits and 6% of urgent visits can be attributed to current smoking while 7% of ED visits and 7% of urgent visits can be attributed to former smoking. Conclusions : Current and former smokers are more likely to need emergency care than never smokers. About 10% of emergency care visits among asthmatics can be attributed to smoking assuming smoking is causally related to emergency care. Long-term effective management of asthma, particularly the prevention and cessation of smoking, could reduce emergency care use and health care costs.