Abstract
BackgroundRecurrent exacerbations in patients with moderate or severe asthma are the major causes of morbidity, mortality and medical expenditure. Identifying predictors of frequent asthma attack might offer the fertile ground of asthma management. However, systematic data on asthma management is scarce in Ethiopia.ObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to determine predictors of acute asthma attack in patients with asthma attending emergency department of University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UOGCSH) in Gondar, northwestern Ethiopia.MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional self-administered survey was conducted on 108 asthmatic patients who came to the emergency department of UOGCSH following acute asthma attack. Data were collected through interviewer administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was done to see the possible association of potential factors that may lead to asthma exacerbation.ResultAbout half of the respondents (51.9%) were female and one third of patients (38.9%) were within the age range of between 46 and 60 years. The leading potential predictor were frequent exposure to various ongoing allergen (68.5%) followed by revelation to occupational sensitizers (67.6%). Chronic sinusitis (AOR = 3.532, 95% CL = 1.116–11.178), obstructive sleep apnea (AOR = 3.425, 95% CL = 1.255–9.356) and psychological disfunctioning (3.689 (1.327–10.255)) were among the significantly associated factors of acute asthma exacerbation.ConclusionsNow days, the backbone for long-term asthma management is to prevent exacerbations. Chronic sinusitis, obstructed sleep apnea and psychosocial dysfunction were originated to be considerably linked with repeated exacerbations of asthma. Among those significantly associated predictors, obstructed sleep apnea were the most prevalent one.
Highlights
Recurrent exacerbations in patients with moderate or severe asthma are the major causes of morbidity, mortality and medical expenditure
An institutional-based cross-sectional self-administered survey was conducted on 108 asthmatic patients who came to the emergency department of University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UOGCSH) following acute asthma attack
Logistic regression was done to see the possible association of potential factors that may lead to asthma exacerbation
Summary
Study area and design An institutional based cross sectional survey was done on adult patients who came to the emergency medicine unit of UOGCSH following asthma exacerbations. The diagnosis of the possible asthma exacerbating diseases such as Obstructive sleep apnea,chronic sinusitis,psychological dysfunctions and the like were made by either internship medical students, senior physicians/nurses or health officers right away at UOGCSH when they came for the management of the acute asthma attack or it was identified as the diagnosis had been already made in other else local health centers by the same professionals and in the latter case, the patient lived for a longer time with the mentioned asthma exacerbating disease but the patient failed to control it In both occasions, as to the explanation of the respondents and the data collectors as an eye witness at UOGCSH, the diagnosis were made based on brief patient history and physical examination.
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