ELECTRONIC healthcare records have allowed researchers to identify inequalities in the care of patients after they have been hospitalised due to an asthma attack. Data collected by the University of Birmingham, UK, has highlighted that only 18% of patients have a general practitioner appointment within the recommended 48-hour period after discharge. Concerningly, the findings were exaggerated in Black patients.
Records collected between 2017–2019 were analysed, including data on more than 17,000 patients >5 years of age. The main finding was that the current recommendations for follow-up care in asthma patients are not being met, and that primary care appointments after hospitalisation are falling far outside the 48-hour window, with some waiting for months for a review. The team also found that 82% of individuals did not receive follow-up care in 48 hours, and only 60% had an appointment within 28 days post-hospitalisation. Furthermore, only 13% of patients with an appointment were offered asthma reviews, and only 8% management plans.
Lead author of the study, Shamil Haroon, University of Birmingham’s Institute of Applied Health Research, UK, advised that “robust plans be put in place to ensure that these recommendations are being followed more closely, and greater scrutiny where they are not.” Black patients were also shown to receive less care associated with asthma management, and depending on age, were between 27–54% less likely to experience the same level of care their White peers were provided.
Second lead author, Prasad Nagakumar, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, UK, summarised the conclusions of this work, and hinted at future focuses in response to this research: “Our study highlights significant shortfalls in implementing the recommendations of the 2014 National Review of Asthma Deaths for follow-up of hospitalised asthma patients. It is time for policy makers to review the recommendations to reduce the health inequalities experienced by Black and ethnic minority groups who also have a high risk of fatal and near fatal asthma attacks.”
