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The severity of acute asthma attacks in children admitted to hospital

K P Dawson1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Christchurch Clinical School of Medicine, Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand.

Australian Paediatric Journal
|June 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Hospital admissions for pediatric asthma in Christchurch show a higher proportion of severe cases compared to England. This suggests an increase in severe asthma, not milder forms, driving admission rates.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
  • Clinical Epidemiology

Background:

  • Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in children.
  • Hospital admission rates for pediatric asthma have been rising globally.
  • Understanding the severity of asthma exacerbations is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the severity of acute asthmatic episodes in hospitalized children in Christchurch.
  • To compare the severity distribution of pediatric asthma admissions in Christchurch with a similar study in England.
  • To investigate the trends in hospital admission rates for pediatric asthma in Christchurch.

Main Methods:

  • A clinical scoring system was used to assess asthma severity in 126 hospitalized children.
  • Independent scoring was conducted to minimize observer bias.
  • Data on asthma severity and admission rates were compared between Christchurch and England.

Main Results:

  • 51% of hospitalized children presented with severe or very severe asthma.
  • Observer bias was found to be minimal through frequent independent scoring.
  • Christchurch had a significantly greater proportion of severe pediatric asthma admissions than England.

Conclusions:

  • The rise in pediatric asthma hospital admissions in Christchurch is not attributed to an increase in milder asthma cases.
  • A higher proportion of severe asthma exacerbations are being admitted to hospitals in Christchurch.
  • Further research into the factors contributing to severe pediatric asthma in Christchurch is warranted.

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