Risk Factors Associated With Frequent Acute Exacerbations of Asthma

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma can lead to fatigue, frequent hospital visits, psychological problems, and learning problems in children. One of the complications of asthma is its life-threatening acute exacerbation. It is important to identify precipitating factors responsible for frequent acute exacerbations of asthma. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in the pulmonology ward of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, from May 2019 to February 2020. Sampling was done by convenient probability technique. The case group was identified as patients with two or more episodes of acute exacerbation of asthma and the control group was identified as asthmatic patients without acute exacerbation in the last year. Results: Factors leading to acute exacerbation of asthma include number of asthma attacks in the past seven days (4.9 ± 3.4 vs. 2.2 ± 2.0; p < 0.0001) and number of nights with troublesome cough in the past 28 days (12.2 ± 8.1 vs. 4.3 ± 3.1; p < 0.0001). Participants with recent upper respiratory tract infection (38.4% vs. 10%; odds ratio [OR] 5.62), smoking history (30.7% vs. 12%; OR 3.25), gastroesophageal reflux disease (26.9% vs. 8.0%; OR 4.2) and non-adherence to medication (26.9% vs. 8.0%; OR 4.2) were more likely to experience from exacerbation of asthma. Conclusion: It is important to identify risk factors that may cause acute exacerbation of asthma in the patients. Patients should be educated of the risk factors and complications of the exacerbation episode of asthma.

Awareness of asthmatic patients to the association between the environmental risk factors and asthma exacerbation in Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

“…This is similar to the results of previous study which showed that more than 80% of asthma exacerbations in children were caused by viral infections (Busse et al, 2010). Moreover, another study conducted by Ansari et al, (2020) showed that exacerbation of asthma is more likely in those with respiratory tract infections with 5.62 times where respiratory infections were reported in 38.4% of patients with asthma exacerbation compared with 10% of control group). Moreover, another study showed that exacerbations of asthma symptoms are frequently associated with upper respiratory tract infection (Papadopoulos et al, 2011).…”

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward allergic rhinitis among parents

“…Still, these previous studies were not performed speci cally on parents of children with AR (although it can be considered that many of the participants in those previous studies had children), and no data are available in the literature regarding the speci c population of parents of children with AR. In the present study, 12.29% of the patients had comorbid asthma, and AR is a risk factor for asthma exacerbations [24]. The knowledge scores of parents of children with comorbid AR and asthma were the highest, probably due to the diagnosis of asthma, which is more severe than a diagnosis of AR.…”

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward allergic rhinitis among parents in Ningbo, China

“…Still, these previous studies were not performed specifically on parents of children with AR (although it can be considered that many of the participants in those previous studies had children), and no data are available in the literature regarding the specific population of parents of children with AR. In the present study, 12.29% of the patients had comorbid asthma, and AR is a risk factor for asthma exacerbations [ 27 ]. The knowledge scores of parents of children with comorbid AR and asthma were the highest, probably due to the diagnosis of asthma, which is more severe than a diagnosis of AR.…”