Use of Appropriate Medications for Asthma (NQF 0036)

EMeasure Name Use of Appropriate Medications for Asthma EMeasure Id 2B547A15-6BF5-494C-80DC-84C8B11F2E58
Version number 1 Set Id FB89F629-47A8-427C-8B54-107EC12FF23C
Available Date No information Measurement Period January 1, 20xx through December 31, 20xx
Measure Steward National Committee for Quality Assurance
Endorsed by National Quality Forum
Description The percentage of patients 5-50 years of age during the measurement year who were identified as having persistent asthma and were appropriately prescribed medication during the measurement year.
Copyright
© National Committee for Quality Assurance. All Rights Reserved
Measure scoring Proportion
Measure type Process
Stratification
Stratified by (i) age: 4-10,  (ii) age: 11-49, (iii) 4-49, where the total is the sum of the two numerators divided by the sum of the two denominators
Risk Adjustment
None
Data Aggregation
Rationale
This measure assesses the appropriate and timely use of medications for long-term control of asthma symptoms and offers meaningful and actionable information to health care providers and consumers. Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting an estimated 6.2 million children and resulting in more than 6.5 million office visits, 500,000 hospitalizations, 1.51 million nonemergency outpatient department visits and 1.81 million ER visits for children and adults. In 1998, over $10 billion was spent on related medical expenditures in the United States. The financial and disease burden can be alleviated if patients have appropriate medications and medical management. This measure facilitates efforts toward effective disease management and prevention of traumatic outcomes.
Clinical Recommendation Statement
The US DHHS National Asthma Education Program Expert Panel Report-2 recommends inhaled corticosteroids over other long-term control medications in improving asthma outcomes, with the acknowledgement of a potential but small risk of adverse events with use of inhaled corticosteroids. Bronchodilators (e.g., beta2-adrenergic agonists, methylxanthines) act to relieve the symptoms of the disease during acute events, but do not lead to long-term improvement. Studies cited by the Expert Panel Report 2002 Update demonstrate inhaled corticosteroids improve asthma control compared to as-needed beta2-agonists without any other long-term control medication. Therefore, disease management relies on the use of combination therapy including anti-inflammatory medications to ensure clinical improvement of patient care.
Improvement notation
Higher score indicates better quality
Measurement duration
12 month(s)
Reference
National Asthma Education Program, Expert Panel Report. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma-Updated on Selected Topics 2002. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2002. No. 97-4051.
Definition
Guidance

Table of Contents


Population criteria

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Data criteria (QDS Data Elements)

Summary Calculation

Calculation is generic to all measures:



Measure set CLINICAL QUALITY MEASURE SET 2011-2012