abstract
- BACKGROUND: Hospitalization rates for asthma vary more than threefold across regions of Ontario. It is not known whether this variation is primarily due to regional differences in the rate of emergency department (ED) visits or hospital admissions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the variation in ED visit rates for asthma in Ontario, and the relation between ED visit rates and hospitalization rates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: We studied patients with an ED disposition diagnosis of asthma in a stratified sample of 16 hospitals (pediatric facilities, 13; adult facilities, 14) over a 1-year period. Pediatric patients were defined as those patients who were