Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2025
Symptom Assessment of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis Using an Allergen Exposure Chamber
Published on: March 3, 2023
Allergic Comorbidity Is a Risk Factor for Not Attending Scheduled Outpatient Visits in Children with Asthma
Kalle Garpvall1, Marie Hauerslev1, Mads Marckmann1
1Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, 2730 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Children with asthma and allergic sensitization are more likely to miss appointments. Atopic predisposition may reduce missed visits. This study identifies key factors influencing attendance in pediatric asthma care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Asthma is a prevalent chronic childhood illness.
- Missed primary care visits are linked to poor treatment adherence and short-term asthma control loss.
- Long-term non-attendance patterns in pediatric asthma care require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine long-term patterns of missed outpatient visits in children with asthma.
- To identify predictors of non-attendance over a 5-year period.
- To assess the association between non-attendance and asthma control or treatment adherence.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 146 children with asthma over 5 years.
- Analysis of scheduled outpatient visit attendance records.
- Multivariate analysis to identify risk factors for non-attendance, including allergic sensitization, atopic predisposition, asthma treatment step, and lung function.
Main Results:
- 46% of children missed at least one appointment, totaling 10.8% of all scheduled visits.
- Allergic sensitization was a significant risk factor for non-attendance (aOR = 6.6).
- Atopic predisposition decreased the risk of non-attendance (aOR = 0.36).
- No association was found between non-attendance and treatment adherence or loss of asthma control.
Conclusions:
- Allergic comorbidity, not asthma severity, predicts non-attendance in pediatric asthma care.
- Children with allergic sensitization represent a group at higher risk for missed appointments.
- Understanding these predictors can inform strategies to improve appointment adherence in pediatric asthma management.
Abstract:
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children globally. Previous studies have shown that not attending asthma primary care consultations is associated with poorer treatment adherence and increased risk of loss of asthma control on a short-term basis. Here, we investigated long-term patterns and predictors of not attending scheduled asthma outpatient visits during 5-years of follow-up in 146 children with asthma. Of the 146 children, 67 (46%) did not attend at least one scheduled appointment, amounting to a total of 122 (10.8%) missed of 1133 scheduled appointments. In a multivariate analysis adjusting for total scheduled visits in the 5-year period any allergic sensitization was a significant risk factor for not attending ≥1 scheduled appointment (aOR = 6.6 (95% CI, 1.3-39.7), p = 0.03), which was not the case for asthma treatment step or lung function. Furthermore, atopic predisposition decreased the risk of non-attendance (aOR = 0.36 (0.13-0.92), p = 0.04). We found no association between non-attendance, treatment adherence or loss of asthma control. This study highlights that allergic comorbidity, but not degree of asthma severity, identifies a group of children with asthma who are prone to not attend scheduled outpatient appointments.
More Related Videos
03:40Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis
Published on: December 20, 2024
06:34A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma
Published on: June 4, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:25Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs
Mast cell stabilizers, such as cromolyn (also known as sodium cromoglycate) and nedocromil (Tilade), are effective drugs in asthma management. These stabilizers hinder histamine release by skillfully obstructing the activation of mast cells and other cellular entities. Notably, they navigate this task without...