Description

For sample adults and sample children who still have asthma (ASTHMASTIL) or who had an asthma episode/attack in the past 12 months (ASTHATAKYR), ASTHPREV indicates whether they had ever taken preventive asthma medicine. Interviewers asked, "Have you ever taken the preventive kind of asthma medicine used everyday to protect your lungs and keep you from having attacks? Include both oral medicine and inhalers. This is different from inhalers used for quick relief." In a preface to this question, interviewers characterized this type of medication as asthma medicine that "does not give quick relief but protects your lungs and prevents symptoms over the long term."

In 2003 only, those responding affirmatively to ASTHPREV were asked a follow-up question about whether they are "now taking this medication daily or almost daily" (ASTHPRENOW).

In 2003 only, information was also collected on whether persons had used a second type of prescription asthma medication--inhalers designed to give quick relief from asthma symptoms--during the past 3 months (ASTHPINQUICK).

Other asthma-related questions were periodically included in the survey; see ASTHMAEV for a summary of these variables currently in the IPUMS NHIS.

Comparability

This variable is completely comparable between 2002 and 2003.

Universe

Availability

• 2002-2003, 2008

Weights

• 2002-2003, 2008 : SAMPWEIGHT