The study found that more than 8 in 10 patients with asthma did not receive standard care, and the situation was even worse for black patients.
Just 18 percent of asthma patients admitted to hospital saw their GP within the recommended 48-hour period between 2017 and 2019. The researchers said they wanted to look at the most recent three-year period before the pandemic, which “skewed” the data.
Recent data from a leading charity shows that the majority of patients are still not seen by a healthcare professional within two working days of attending an emergency department.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham studied electronic medical records of more than 17,000 patients over five years. The data not only shows that the recommended primary care visit 48 hours after a hospital visit after an asthma episode is significantly lower than the recommended visit, but also shows that only 60 percent of patients had a follow-up visit within 28 hours. period of the day.
Dr. Shamil Harun, senior author of the study published in British Journal of General Practicesaid: “This analysis shows that a significant proportion of people who require hospital treatment after an asthma attack do not receive the expected standard of follow-up care.” Black patients Disparities exist.
“Not only do most patients not receive care within the recommended 48-hour periods, but patients also remain for months or longer before being seen. We recommend that clear plans be put in place to ensure that these recommendations are implemented more closely, as well as more careful monitoring where this is not the case.”
Dr Prasad Nagakumar, from Birmingham Children’s Hospital and co-author of the study, said: “Black patients included in the study were found to have received less asthma-related care.” age, were 27 to 54 percent less likely to receive the same level of care as their white peers.
“Our study reveals significant shortcomings in the implementation of the 2014 National Asthma Mortality Survey recommendations for surveillance of hospitalized patients with asthma. “It is time for policymakers to reconsider recommendations to reduce health inequalities faced by black and minority ethnic people, who are also at high risk of fatal or near-fatal asthma attacks.”
Additional evidence suggests that while most patients (57 percent) were given medication after use, few patients were offered an asthma test (13 percent) or a treatment plan (8 percent), and only 1 percent of smokers received advice about , how to quit smoking.
Last year, 57 per cent of patients did not return for a follow-up appointment within 48 hours, according to Asthma + Lung UK.
This was stated by the charity’s head of policy and external affairs, Harriet Edwards. I: “It’s shocking, but sadly not surprising, that so many people with asthma don’t get the follow-up care they need.” The ventilator service is in crisis. Inadequate basic care, including missing essential follow-up visits, causes preventable harm to people with lung disease. This is even more evident in the communities where it is most severe, where you are three times more likely to die from an asthma attack.”
“We know that people with lung disease can stay healthy and avoid hospitalization if they have access to appropriate follow-up care and better support to manage their condition. This will protect them from potentially life-threatening asthma attacks and avoidable hospitalizations.
The Department of Health and Human Services has been contacted for comment.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.