Sources of Asthma Data
Our asthma surveillance system integrates data from a variety of sources, as outlined below.
1) Asthma Prevalence/Severity – Prevalence is estimated through telephone surveys administered to a random sample of the population. In California, there are two such surveys:
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (1984-2007)
California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) (2001, 2003, 2005)
Current data sources do not provide information about diagnosed level of asthma severity. However, both BRFSS and CHIS include information on the level of asthma symptoms. BRFSS conducts a special asthma survey that includes especially detailed information on asthma symptoms:
BRFSS Asthma Call-Back Survey (2006-2007)
2) Scheduled/Unscheduled Office Visits – Current data sources do not allow tracking of asthma-related physician visits. However, questions about these visits are asked to respondents in the surveys listed above (BRFSS, CHIS, and BRFSS Asthma Call-Back Survey).
3) Emergency Department/Urgent Care – The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) collects information on all emergency department (ED) visits in licensed hospitals in California. We use these data to calculate the extent of ED usage for asthma in the state. (2005-2007)
4) Hospitalizations – The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) also collects information on all inpatient hospital discharges from licensed hospitals in California. We use these data to calculate the extent of hospitalizations for asthma in the state. (1990-2007)
5) Mortality – The CDPH Center for Health Statistics compiles death certificate data, and we use these records to calculate the extent of asthma mortality in the state. (1990-2006)
6) Quality of Life – Quality of life for people with asthma is currently measured through the BRFSS and CHIS surveys. Topics include activity limitations, work and school days missed, and general health status.
7) Cost – There are many direct and indirect costs associated with asthma. Currently, the only measurable costs in our surveillance system are charges for asthma hospitalizations (from OSHPD).
8) Pharmacy – Current data sources do not allow tracking of asthma-related pharmacy use. However, the BRFSS Asthma Call-Back Survey and CHIS include questions about asthma medications. Additionally, Medi-Cal calculates the HEDIS measure, use of appropriate medication for people with asthma.
9) Triggers – Limited information on exposure to triggers such as tobacco smoke, cockroaches, and pets (add more from call-back) is available from the BRFSS Asthma Call-Back Survey and CHIS. Additionally, our work-related asthma surveillance system collects information on workplace exposures to substances that contribute to asthma symptoms.
10) Work-Related Asthma – An ongoing surveillance system has been in place to track work-related asthma in California since 1993. This system identifies cases of work-related asthma through four data sources: Doctor's First Reports of occupational illness and injury, Workers' Compensation Information System, OSHPD ED visit data and OSHPD inpatient hospital discharge data. Work-related asthma questions are also included on the BRFSS survey and the BRFSS Asthma Call-Back Survey.
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