The study of severe asthma in Latin America and Spain (1994-2004): characteristics of patients hospitalized with acute severe asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Studies assessing the characteristics and management of patients hospitalized with asthma have been limited to a small number of facilities and have evaluated short time periods. The present study evaluated long-term changes among hospitalized asthma patients at a large number of facilities. METHODS: This was a retrospective, hospital-based observational case series, designated the Study of Severe Asthma in Latin America and Spain, which was conducted in Spain and in eight Latin-American countries. We reviewed the hospital records of 3,038 patients (age range, 15-69 years) hospitalized with acute severe asthma at one of nineteen tertiary-care hospitals in 1994, 1999 and 2004. RESULTS: Over time, the use of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2 agonists increased significantly, whereas the use of theophylline as a controller medication decreased. The utilization of pulmonary function tests also increased. There was a significant reduction in the mean hospital stay (8.5 days, 7.4 days and 7.1 days in 1994, 1999 and 2004, respectively, p = 0.0001) and a significant increase in the mean of the lowest arterial pH at hospital admission. In contrast, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of cases in which PEF was determined in the emergency room (48.6% in 1994 vs. 43.5% in 2004, p = 0.0001). We found the quality of asthma management and care to be generally better in Spain than in Latin America. CONCLUSIONS: Although there have been certain improvements in the management of asthma between severe exacerbations and during hospitalization, asthma management remains suboptimal in Spain and, especially, in Latin America.

The study of severe asthma in Latin America and Spain (1994-2004): characteristics of patients hospitalized with acute severe asthma / Estudo sobre Asma Grave na América Latina e Espanha (1994-2004): características dos pacientes hospitalizados com asma aguda grave

Objective: Studies assessing the characteristics and management of patients hospitalized with asthma have been limited to a small number of facilities and have evaluated short time periods. The present study evaluated long-term changes among hospitalized asthma patients at a large number of facilities. Methods: This was a retrospective, hospital-based observational case series, designated the Study of Severe Asthma in Latin America and Spain, which was conducted in Spain and in eight Latin-American countries. We reviewed the hospital records of 3,038 patients (age range, 15-69 years) hospitalized with acute severe asthma at one of nineteen tertiary-care hospitals in 1994, 1999 and 2004. Results: Over time, the use of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2 agonists increased significantly, whereas the use of theophylline as a controller medication decreased. The utilization of pulmonary function tests also increased. There was a significant reduction in the mean hospital stay (8.5 days, 7.4 days and 7.1 days in 1994, 1999 and 2004, respectively, p = 0.0001) and a significant increase in the mean of the lowest arterial pH at hospital admission. In contrast, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of cases in which PEF was determined in the emergency room (48.6% in 1994 vs. 43.5% in 2004, p = 0.0001). We found the quality of asthma management and care to be generally better in Spain than in Latin America. Conclusions: Although there have been certain improvements in the management of asthma between severe exacerbations and during hospitalization, asthma management remains suboptimal in Spain and, especially, in Latin America.

Objetivo: Estudos que avaliem as características e o gerenciamento de pacientes asmáticos hospitalizados têm sido limitados a um número pequeno de serviços e a curtos períodos de duração. O presente estudo avaliou alteraçõesde longo prazo de pacientes asmáticos hospitalizados em um grande número de serviços. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo,observacional, de base hospitalar, denominado Estudo sobre Asma Grave na América Latina e Espanha, realizado na Espanha e em oito países da América Latina. Foi realizada uma revisão dos registros hospitalares de 3.038 pacientes (variação de idade, 15-69 anos) hospitalizados com asma aguda grave em um dos 19 hospitais terciários em 1994, 1999 e 2004. Resultados: Ao longo do tempo, o uso de corticosteroides inalatórios e de β2-agonistas aumentou significativamente, ao passo que o uso de teofilina, como medicação de controle, decaiu. A utilização de testes de função pulmonar também aumentou. Houve uma redução significativa da média do tempo de internação (8,5 dias, 7,4 dias e 7,1 dias em 1994, 1999 e 2004, respectivamente; p = 0,0001) e um aumento significativo da média do menor pH arterial na admissão. Em contrapartida, houve uma diminuição significativa na proporção de casos submetidos ao PFE no pronto-socorro (48,6% em 1994 vs. 43,5% em 2004; p = 0,0001). O tratamento e o gerenciamento da asma foram, de forma geral, melhores na Espanha que na América Latina. Conclusões: Embora tenha havido avanços no gerenciamento da asma entre exacerbações graves e durante a hospitalização, esse gerenciamento continua subotimizado na Espanha e, em especial, na América Latina.

Factors associated with mortality in patients hospitalized in Spain and Latin America for acute severe asthma in 1994, 1999, and 2004.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, for the first time, the characteristics of patients with acute asthma who died during hospitalization in Spain and Latin America, as well as to evaluate factors associated with asthma mortality. METHODS: A retrospective review of hospital records of 3,038 patients with asthma (aged 15-69 years) admitted to nineteen tertiary care hospitals in Spain and in eight Latin-American countries in 1994, 1999, and 2004. RESULTS: There were 25 deaths (0.8% of all hospitalized patients) during the three years studied. Although there was a tendency towards a reduction in in-hospital mortality (from 0.97% in 1994 to 0.69% in 2004), there were no significant differences in terms of year or geographic area. Intensive care unit admissions and cases of out of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest increased the mortality rates to 8.3% and 24.7%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that gender (female; OR = 25.5; 95% CI: 2.6-246.8), out of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (OR = 22.5; 95% CI: 4.4-114.7), and arterial pH < 7.3 during hospitalization (OR = 1.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.4) were strongly associated with asthma mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our study on mortality in patients hospitalized for acute severe asthma showed that deaths occurred almost exclusively in female patients and in patients who suffered out of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest, confirming previous findings from studies conducted in developed countries.

Fatores associados à mortalidade em pacientes hospitalizados por asma aguda grave em 1994, 1999 e 2004 na Espanha e América Latina / Factors associated with mortality in patients hospitalized in Spain and Latin America for acute severe asthma in 1994, 1999, and 2004

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, for the first time, the characteristics of patients with acute asthma who died during hospitalization in Spain and Latin America, as well as to evaluate factors associated with asthma mortality. METHODS: A retrospective review of hospital records of 3,038 patients with asthma (aged 15-69 years) admitted to nineteen tertiary care hospitals in Spain and in eight Latin-American countries in 1994, 1999, and 2004. RESULTS: There were 25 deaths (0.8 percent of all hospitalized patients) during the three years studied. Although there was a tendency towards a reduction in in-hospital mortality (from 0.97 percent in 1994 to 0.69 percent in 2004), there were no significant differences in terms of year or geographic area. Intensive care unit admissions and cases of out of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest increased the mortality rates to 8.3 percent and 24.7 percent, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that gender (female; OR = 25.5; 95 percent CI: 2.6-246.8), out of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (OR = 22.5; 95 percent CI: 4.4-114.7), and arterial pH < 7.3 during hospitalization (OR = 1.0; 95 percent CI: 1.1-3.4) were strongly associated...

OBJETIVO: Avaliar, pela primeira vez, as características de pacientes com asma aguda que morreram durante a hospitalização na Espanha e na América Latina, bem como avaliar fatores associados à mortalidade por asma. MÉTODOS: Revisão retrospectiva dos registros hospitalares de 3.038 pacientes com asma (com idade entre 15 e 69 anos) internados em dezenove hospitais de atendimento terciário na Espanha e em oito países da América Latina em 1994, 1999 e 2004. RESULTADOS: Houve 25 mortes (0,8 por cento de todos os pacientes hospitalizados) durante os três anos estudados. Embora tenha havido uma tendência de redução da mortalidade hospitalar (de 0,97 por cento em 1994 para 0,69 por cento em 2004), não houve diferenças significativas quanto ao ano ou à área geográfica. Internações em unidade de terapia intensiva e casos de parada pulmonar pré-hospitalar aumentaram as taxas de mortalidade para 8,3 por cento e 24,7 por cento, respectivamente. A análise multivariada mostrou que sexo (feminino; OR = 25,5; IC95 por cento: 2,6-246,8), parada cardiopulmonar pré-hospitalar (OR = 22,5; IC95 por cento: 4,4-114,7) e pH arterial < 7,3 durante a hospitalização (OR = 1,0; IC95 por cento: 1,1-3,4) estavam fortemente associados à mortalidade...

[Inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of asthma exacerbations: essential concepts]. / Conceptos básicos sobre la utilización de corticoides inhalados en el tratamiento de la exacerbación asmática.

The use of systemic corticosteroids reduces hospitalizations in patients suffering an asthma attack and improves lung function within 6 to 12 hours of administration. However, despite the considerable body of positive evidence published in the last decade, doubts remain in regard to the effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids. Analysis of this evidence has been cursory; crucial data on the mechanism of action of corticosteroids have been overlooked and there has been a failure to distinguish between antiinflammatory effects and so-called nongenomic effects. This review considers the biological basis for the effects of inhaled corticosteroids and analyzes the best data available on the use and therapeutic implications of inhaled corticosteroids for the treatment of asthma exacerbations.