Hospital admission rate in children and adolescents with mild persistent asthma

The health and financial burden of mild-persistent asthma has been poorly investigated.

Our aim was to compare the rate of hospital admissions that have occurred during the preceding year between children and adolescents with current mild-persistent (MP) and moderate-severe (MS) asthma.

We screened children and adolescents with asthma at eight outpatient clinics. The inclusion criteria were asthma diagnosis, age from 6 to 18 years and follow-up with a physician during the preceding 6 months. Subjects answered standardized questionnaires and underwent spirometry.

We enrolled 220 MP and 102 MS asthmatic subjects. The proportion of subjects with HA during the preceding year was similar between MP and MS asthma groups (7% vs. 7%; p = .89). Symptoms score and the financial values spent by the family in the care of asthma were lower in MP asthma as compared with MS asthma group (asthma control questionnaire score 0.7 [0.3-1.0) vs. 2.0 [1.1-2.5]; p < .01) (asthma expenses in USD 13 [2-43] vs. 28 [10-83]; p < .01). The frequency of subjects using inhaled corticosteroids maintenance therapy was lower in the MP asthma group as compared with the MS asthma group (54% vs. 100%; p < .01).

We conclude that the frequency of hospital admissions that have occurred during the preceding year was similar between subjects with current MP and MS asthma. Symptoms score and the financial values spent by the family in the care of asthma were lower in the MP asthma group.