A profile of acute asthma patients presenting to the emergency room

摘要: We conducted a three-month prospective study on the profile of 70 acute adult asthmatic patients presenting to Accident and Emergency Unit general hospital. The overall background activity, clinical features current exacerbation, maintenance drug treatment, gross psycho-social problems, previous experience near-fatal asthma, admission relapse rates were documented. Ninety percent presentations within 24 hours initial attack, with an average pre-hospital therapy duration 6.5 hours. Sixty-seven sought further treatment after failure find relief from their salbutamol metered-dose inhalers. Sixteen did not receive any before presentation. Ten gave past history mechanical ventilation for severe or near fatal asthma. majority (94%) had symptoms in mild moderate range. About half (46%) attended Room (ER) at least once six months. On average, two items drugs 23% inhaled steroids. One-third (33%) found have problems relating condition. rate was 37% following ER discharge 13%. showed high proportion subset frequent visits ER. It also revealed infrequent use prophylactic therapy.