Am J Public Health

Objectives

This study compares a statewide telephone health survey and EHR data from a large Wisconsin health system to estimate asthma prevalence in Wisconsin.

Methods

Frequency tables and logistic regression models were developed for children and adults using Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) and University of Wisconsin primary care clinic data. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) from each model were compared.

Results

Between 2007 and 2009, the EHR database contained 376,000 patients (30,000 with asthma) compared to 23,000 (1,850 with asthma) responding to the BRFSS telephone survey. Adjusted ORs for asthma were similar in magnitude and direction for the majority of covariates, including gender, age, and race between survey and EHR models. The EHR data had greater statistical power to detect associations than survey data, especially in pediatric and ethnic populations, due to larger sample sizes.

Conclusions

EHRs can be used to estimate asthma prevalence in Wisconsin adults and children. EHR data may improve public health chronic disease surveillance using high quality data at the local level to better identify areas of disparity, risk factors, and guide education and healthcare interventions.

24228643

PMC3895403

Journal Article

CDC Public Access