Prevalence of Eosinophilic Asthma and Its Association with Severe Asthma Exacerbations in Children Admitted to the Pediatric Ward of Phrae Hospital
Abstract
Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways involves multiple inflammatory cells. Asthma patients are also more sensitive to various stimuli than those without asthma, leading to bronchospasm and difficulty breathing. Symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. While asthma is not curable, it can be effectively controlled. However, studies on pediatric eosinophilic asthma in Thailand remain limited.
Objective: To study the prevalence of asthma based on eosinophil levels in children aged 1-15 years admitted to the pediatric ward at Phrae Hospital and to examine the relationship between eosinophils and severe asthma exacerbations in this population.
Study design: This retrospective cohort study. Collected data from medical records and electronic medical record of pediatric patients aged 1–15 years who were diagnosed with asthma and admitted at Phrae Hospital between January 2020 and December 2024, Descriptive statistics were used to describe general characteristics among participants using frequency statistics, percentages, means, and standard deviations, and analyzing the relationship between eosinophilic asthma and severe asthma exacerbations were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and Chi-Square test.
Result: From a total of 97 participants, the study found that there were 68% of all participants who had eosinophilic asthma. The group with Eosinophil counts >300 cells/µL was the most common. Analysis show that the relationship between eosinophilic asthma and severe exacerbations within the past 12 months, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂,%), treatment location, oxygen administration, and medications used to control asthma were not significantly associated with eosinophilic asthma in children (p>0.05). However, the relationship between the duration of hospital stay and respiratory rate showed a moderate positive correlation (r=0.439, p<0.001)
Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence (68%) of eosinophilic asthma among children in Phrae Province. Although no statistically associations were observed. Patients with high eosinophil levels tended to have higher risk of hypoxia and ICU admission. Therefore, close monitoring and development of management guidelines for this patient group should be recommended.
Keyword: Eosinophilic Asthma, Severe Asthma Exacerbations
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