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Age-specific characteristics of inpatients with severe asthma exacerbation

Kiyoshi Sekiya1, Masami Taniguchi, Yuma Fukutomi

  • 1Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa 228-8522, Japan. k−sekiya@sagamihara−hosp.gr.jp

Allergology International : Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology
|June 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Severe asthma exacerbation characteristics differ by age. Young adults have lifestyle risk factors, middle-aged patients often have aspirin-intolerant asthma, and older adults have comorbidities. Tailored prevention strategies are needed for each age group.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Characteristics of severe asthma exacerbations in hospitalized patients are not well understood.
  • Age-related variations in severe asthma exacerbation patient profiles are suspected but rarely studied.
  • Understanding these age-specific differences is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the distinct characteristics of severe asthma inpatients across different age demographics.
  • To identify age-specific factors contributing to severe asthma exacerbations.
  • To inform the development of targeted interventions for asthma management.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 204 asthma inpatients hospitalized between 2004 and 2011.
  • Inclusion criteria: SpO2 <90% (room air), breathless at rest, elevated respiratory and pulse rates.
  • Comparison of patient characteristics across three age groups: young, middle, and advanced age.

Main Results:

  • Younger patients showed higher rates of irregular/no medical visits, smoking, and pet ownership, with 25.9% continuous ICS use.
  • Middle-aged patients frequently presented with aspirin-intolerant asthma, and 60.2% were continuous ICS users.
  • Advanced age patients had higher prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and COPD, with good adherence and 77.4% continuous ICS use.

Conclusions:

  • Patient characteristics in severe asthma exacerbations significantly vary by age group.
  • Age-specific risk factors and comorbidities necessitate tailored approaches to prevent severe asthma exacerbations.
  • Developing customized countermeasures based on age-related profiles is essential for improved asthma control.
Abstract

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