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Risk factors for pediatric asthma emergency visits. Milwaukee Childhood Asthma Project Team
J R Meurer1, V George, S J Subichin
1Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA. jmeurer@mcw.edu
Insights
Identifying risk factors for pediatric asthma emergency department (ED) visits is crucial. Persistent symptoms, young age, minority ethnicity, and lower parental education are linked to increased ED use in children with asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pediatric asthma is a significant public health concern.
- Emergency department (ED) visits for asthma represent a burden on healthcare systems and families.
- Identifying risk factors can inform targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key risk factors associated with emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric asthma.
- To understand the demographic and clinical predictors of severe asthma exacerbations requiring emergency care.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed.
- A mailed survey was administered to a sample of 307 families with children diagnosed with asthma.
- Data analysis focused on identifying associations between various factors and asthma ED utilization.
Main Results:
- Thirty-seven percent of surveyed children had two or more asthma ED visits in the prior year.
- Asthma ED visits were significantly associated with persistent asthma symptoms, parental education level (less than high school diploma), child's age (under 4 years), and African-American race/ethnicity.
- Use of written asthma care plans and spacers at school were linked to severe asthma, suggesting their utility in identifying high-risk cases.
Conclusions:
- Specific demographic and clinical factors predict pediatric asthma ED visits.
- Children with persistent symptoms, younger age, African-American ethnicity, and lower parental education are at higher risk.
- Targeted, office-based medical care for high-risk children can potentially reduce emergency department utilization.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for pediatric asthma emergency department (ED) visits. A cross-sectional sample of 307 families (24%) responded to a mailed survey. Respondents were similar to the target population of 2487 children with asthma. Thirty-seven percent of respondents had two or more asthma ED visits in the past year. Asthma ED use was associated with persistent asthma symptoms, parents without high school diplomas, age under 4 years, African-American race/ethnicity, use of written care plans, and use of spacers at school. The latter two variables were associated with severe asthma. High-risk children can be targeted for office-based medical care.