Recurrent visits and admissions of children with asthma in central Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To identify the pediatric age group and most affected gender by asthma, and to determine the significant predictors of severity of asthma, and assess the appropriateness of asthma medication administration.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Emergency Department (ED) of children's Hospital at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January to March 2009. Interviews were carried out with the parents of 185 children, who presented to the Hospital with asthma exacerbation more than once over the last 6 months, to collect data of possible risk factors, and appropriateness of medication administration technique.

RESULTS: Most patients were males 71.9%, aged 1-6 years (58.9%), and 8.1% of them presented to the ED because of asthma exacerbation more than once over the last 6 months. Approximately two-thirds (65.9%) of the parents explained the way of meter dose inhaler administration correctly. Infants were significantly the least affected group (p=0.02). Severity was significantly higher among appropriate users of medications (p=0.046).

CONCLUSION: Appropriateness of medications administration was significantly associated with severity. However, this may not be considered a valid predictor of severity, as parents of children with recurrent attacks may have a better chance of being taught how to use medications.