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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/13/health/13PREV.html?ei=5070&en=86d2e2681ff075a5&ex=1054094400&pagewanted=print&position=

Prevention: An Answer to Asthma

By ERIC NAGOURNEY
 

rescription drugs to control the rising incidence of asthma in children and young adults appear to be underused, a new study suggests.

After examining the records of 19,000 people, ages 5 to 21, researchers from the University of Michigan found that 16 percent had no prescriptions for short-acting medications and that 9 percent had no asthma prescriptions at all. The young people without prescriptions, the researchers found, were more likely to go to emergency rooms for treatment.

Those who had no records of having prescriptions went to emergency rooms 30 percent more often than those who had the prescriptions.

The lead researcher, Dr. Kevin J. Dombkowski, presented the findings at a recent conference of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

The study looked at whether the children and young adults had prescriptions for one or more of a number of medications, including inhalers used when attacks are imminent or under way, and longer-term drugs to reduce the chances of attacks.

All of the subjects in the study were covered by Medicaid, not private insurance. But the researchers said the results had implications for all young people with asthma.

The researchers acknowledged that having prescriptions did not necessarily mean that the patients used them.

The researchers also said they could not factor in the severity of the illness when comparing emergency room visits.

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