Michael Schatz, MD, MS

The controller-to-total asthma medication ratio was a significant predictor of exacerbations in pediatric and adult commercially insured and Medicaid patients.

Significant clinically meaningful improvements in asthma impairment are documented by administrative data for 1 year after initiation of step-up care in patients with uncontrolled asthma.

African Americans had more asthma-specific emergency care utilization, and African Americans and Native Americans/Aleutians/Eskimos were more likely to report lower asthma-specific quality-of-life scores, than whites.

HEDIS-defined persistent asthma is generally consistent with survey-defined persistent asthma over a 3-year period.

Fewer short-acting agonist canisters dispensed (but not dispensing of any controller) and higher ratio of controller to total medication are associated with reduced asthma exacerbations.