Medical services and prescription use for asthma and factors that predict inhaled corticosteroid use among African-American children covered by Medicaid.

Many African-American children with asthma are inadequately treated with controller pharmacotherapy. We analyzed 2002 West Virginia Medicaid claims for 300 African-American children to determine demographic and health services use factors that predict inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use. Approximately 38% of the children had a prescription claim for an ICS. Logistic regression showed a direct relationship between the number of claims for short-acting beta-agonists and oral corticosteroids and the likelihood of a child having a claim for an ICS. Children who used a controller agent other than an ICS also were more likely to have filled a prescription for an ICS. We conclude that children in our sample whose prescription use indicated more severe asthma were more likely to have used an ICS. Barriers to adequate pharmacotherapy for African-American children with asthma should be considered during the process of care.