[Hospital and primary care emergency services in Asturias [Spain]: variations among health areas and trends between 1994-2001].

Objective: To describe primary care and hospital emergency utilization rates in Asturias health districts from 1994 to 2001 and to analyse their variability.

Methods: Hospital and primary care rates from 1994 to 2001 in the 8 Asturias health districts were estimated. Their variability was analysed using indirect standardisation and small area variation statistics.