Asthmatic children's risk factors for emergency room visits, Brazil

Authors

  • Moema Chatkin Universidade Federal de Pelotas; Departamento de Clínica Médica
  • Ana Maria B Menezes Universidade Federal de Pelotas; Departamento de Clínica Médica
  • Elaine Albernaz Universidade Federal de Pelotas; Departamento Materno-Infantil
  • Cesar G Victora Universidade Federal de Pelotas; Departamento Medicina Social
  • Fernando C Barros Universidade Federal de Pelotas; Departamento Medicina Social

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102000000500009

Keywords:

Asthma^i2^sepidemiol, Emergency medical services^i2^sutilizat, Risk factors^i2^sch, Prevalence, Morbidity, Status asthmaticus

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To study a sample of asthmatic children to get to know how the disease is managed by caretakers and to identify predictive factors associated with attendance in emergency room for asthma. METHODS: A cross-sectional study nested in a cohort was undertaken in the urban area of Pelotas, Southern Brazil. 981 children aged 4-5 years, who belong to the cohort of 1993, participated in this study. RESULTS: The asthma prevalence in the children sample was 25.4%. Morbidity for asthma was quite high: 31% of the children were seen in emergency rooms in the last year, 57% attended medical clinics and 26% were hospitalized in the first 4 years of life. The crude analysis identified the following predictive factors for emergency room visits: low educational level (RO=4.1), low family income (RO=6.5), 3 or more children sleeping in the same room (RO=2.2), severity of asthma attacks (RO=2.7), use of asthma medicines in the last year (RO=1.9) and hospitalizations due to asthma (RO=3.0). Multivariate analyses using logistic regression were used to adjust each variable for the effect of the remainder. CONCLUSIONS: The asthma prevalence among preschool children in Pelotas is high, resulting therefore in high morbidity. The predictor factors for emergency room visits due to asthma found, after multivariate analysis, were mother's low educational level, severity of the asthma attacks and hospitalization.

Published

2000-10-01

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Chatkin, M., Menezes, A. M. B., Albernaz, E., Victora, C. G., & Barros, F. C. (2000). Asthmatic children’s risk factors for emergency room visits, Brazil . Revista De Saúde Pública, 34(5), 491-498. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102000000500009