Demographic and Clinical Insights into Pediatric Asthma Exacerbations: A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation, leading to airway hyperresponsiveness and recurrent episodes of wheezing, respiratory distress, chest tightness, and/or coughing.

This study aims to describe the demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, management strategies, and outcomes of patients with asthma exacerbations.

This retrospective study analyzed data from children aged 2 to 13 years who were admitted with a diagnosis of asthma exacerbation between January 2018 and July 2023. The study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital providing inpatient care.

Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with severe asthma exacerbations (SAEs). Univariate analyses, including chi-square tests and simple logistic regression, showed that chest recession, respiratory distress, use of prophylactic medications, obesity, and a family history of allergy were significantly associated with severe exacerbations. However, obesity was associated with lower odds of developing SAE.

Comparisons of continuous variables using two-sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and logistic regression revealed significant differences in age, respiratory rate, heart rate, and oxygen saturation between groups. Multiple logistic regression analyses, assessed using likelihood ratio tests, were then conducted to refine the prediction model. Increased respiratory rate, younger age, and lower oxygen saturation were identified as significant predictors of severe or life-threatening asthma exacerbations.

Younger age, increased respiratory and heart rates, lower oxygen saturation, chest recession, respiratory distress, use of prophylactic medications, and a family history of allergy were identified as significant predictors of asthma exacerbation severity.