Table 2 Overall percent distributions of asthma indicators, 2006 to 2010

Process-related indicators

Use of spirometry

 To diagnose asthma

46.8

(46.2, 47.5)

48.8

(48.1, 49.5)

49.9

(49.2, 50.7)

51.0

(50.3, 51.8)

52.5

(51.6, 53.5)

12.2

(10.3, 14.0)

<0.001

 To monitor asthma

16.4

(16.2, 16.5)

17.0

(16.9, 17.2)

17.2

(17.1, 17.4)

17.7

(17.6, 17.9)

19.1

(18.9, 19.2)

16.5

(15.2, 17.8)

<0.001

Inhaled corticosteroids

72.9

(72.1, 73.7)

74.2

(73.3, 75.0)

74.7

(73.8, 75.5)

75.2

(74.4, 76.1)

76.6

(75.8, 77.5)

5.1

(4.3, 6.0)

<0.001

Short acting β2-agonist

60.5

(59.7, 61.2)

60.7

(59.9, 61.4)

58.2

(57.4, 58.9)

57.8

(57.0, 58.5)

58.5

(57.8, 59.3)

−3.3

(−4.3, −2.1)

<0.001

 ≤4 canisters per year

56.6

(55.7, 57.6)

57.7

(56.7, 58.6)

60.5

(59.5, 61.5)

61.2

(60.2, 62.3)

61.6

(60.6, 62.7)

8.8

(7.3, 10.5)

<.0001

 5-12 canisters per year

30.3

(29.6, 31.0)

30.4

(29.7, 31.1)

29.3

(28.6, 30.0)

29.0

(28.3, 29.7)

29.4

(28.7, 30.1)

−3.0

(−5.5, −0.2)

0.0008

 13-20 canisters per year

8.7

(8.3, 9.1)

8.2

(7.9, 8.6)

7.3

(7.0, 7.7)

7.1

(6.8, 7.5)

6.5

(6.2, 6.9)

−25.3

(−29.4, −20.0)

<.0001

 >20 canisters per year

4.4

(4.1, 4.6)

3.7

(3.5, 4.0)

2.9

(2.7, 3.1)

2.7

(2.5, 2.9)

2.4

(2.2, 2.6)

−45.5

(−50.5, −39.5)

<.0001

Outcome-related indicators

Asthma specific health services use

 Primary care visits

20.8

(20.8, 20.9)

20.0

(19.9, 20.1)

18.4

(18.3, 18.5)

17.5

(17.4, 17.5)

17.1

(17.0, 17.1)

−17.8

(−18.4, −17.7)

<0.001

 Emergency department visits

2.4

(2.4, 2.4)

2.2

(2.2, 2.2)

1.9

(1.9, 1.9)

1.8

(1.8, 1.8)

1.7

(1.7, 1.7)

−29.2

(−30.0, −27.9)

<0.001

Other health services use

 Primary care visits

86.2

(86.1, 86.4)

84.9

(84.8, 85.0)

83.4

(83.3, 83.6)

83.8

(83.7, 83.9)

83.1

(83.0, 83.2)

−3.6

(−3.9, 3.4)

<0.0001

 Emergency department visits

26.1

(26.0, 26.1)

25.9

(25.9, 26.0)

25.8

(25.7, 25.8)

25.7

(25.6, 25.8)

25.9

(25.8, 26.0)

−0.8

(−1.1, 0.0)

<0.0001