3 | RESULTS
143 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 3.9 ± 3.3 years, and
60.1% (n = 86) were male. 49.6% (n = 71) were under three years old,
25.9% (n = 37) were three to five years old, 20.3% (n = 29) were six
to 11 years old, and 4.2% (n = 6) were over the age of 12. Previous
asthma diagnosis was found in 87.4% (n = 125). In all age categories
combined, 69.2% (n = 99) had a moderate or severe exacerbation.
The demographic aspects and treatment prior to emergency management are
presented in Table 1. No significant differences in the treatment were
observed between the subgroups. The time between the first clinical
signs of the crisis and the time elapsed for management in the emergency
department was prolonged, and only 8.3% (n = 12) arrived at the
emergency department in less than six hours (Fig. 1). The median time
was 16 hours across all age categories and in children under three years
of age.
In children with a history asthma (n = 125), 48.8% (n = 61) had control
treatment, with adherence estimated in 70.9% of cases (n = 39). There
was routine monitoring of asthma by a pediatrician, pediatric
allergist/pulmonologist in 32.2% (n = 40), but was most often not done
[45.2% (n = 56)]. An asthma plan protocol for exacerbation was
explained to families in 36.5% of cases (n = 45), orally in 20.0% of
cases (n = 25), and in written form in 16.5% of cases (n = 20). An
individualized action plan was implemented in 22.7% of cases (n = 27)
(Table 2).