Young adults admitted for asthma: does gender influence outcomes?

To assess any outcome differences between young men and women who are admitted for asthma.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on hospitalizations. An inclusion criterion was admission for asthma between January 1, 1998 and July 1, 2001. Exclusion criteria included age >45, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema. Data were collected on 10 potential confounding variables. Four outcome variables were assessed, including length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, mortality, and respiratory failure.

Patients admitted for asthma were significantly more likely to be female (374 females vs. 106 males, p <0.05). There was no difference between the genders comparing month of admission. The women were significantly older, with more Medicaid insured, and more anxiety/depression (p <0.05). There was no difference between the genders for obesity, race, tobacco history, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, diabetes, and pneumonia. There was no reported mortality. Using regression analysis, there was no difference between the genders for length of stay (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97-1.17) and respiratory failure (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 0.53-4.76). Men stayed significantly longer in the ICU (OR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.01-1.38).

Patients admitted with asthma are significantly more likely to be female. Males stay significantly longer in the ICU. There is no difference between the genders for length of stay and respiratory failure. There was no reported mortality for either gender.