Triggers of Acute Asthma in Patients Attending Emergency Centre in a Peri-urban District Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
Abstract:
Introduction:
Many avoidable triggers lead to acute asthma attack and subsequent visit to the
emergency centre. The aim of the study was to determine triggers of acute asthma in order to target prevention efforts in patients
attending emergency centre in a district hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. Objectives were to describe acute asthma
patients, identify triggers and severity at presentation. Methods involved a prospective descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from April to August 2015, in consenting
adult participants. A researcher or trained assistant completed the semi-structured
questionnaire in English. Results: Overall, 239 patients enrolled (139 males,
100 females with the median age 31 years). Majority presented with moderate acute
asthma (52.72%). Active cigarette smoking (p-value<0.001) and/or passive cigarette
smoking (p-value=0.004) were identified potential triggers for acute asthma attack.
Chi-square or Fisher Exact test analysis were used for associations between variables
and severity. Bivariate logistic regression was used to ascertain triggers associated
with acute asthma attack. P-value < 0.05 was statistically significant. Confidence
interval was 95%. There were no significant associations between the severity of
acute asthma attack and acute respiratory infection (p-value=0.818), use of medication-related
asthma triggers (p-value=0.942) and knowledge of asthma allergens (p-value =0.086).
Conclusion: The majority patients presented in moderate acute asthma attack which
was most probably triggered by active and/ or passive cigarette smoking. Hence,
frequent visits to hospital in acute asthma attack could be minimized by removing
avoidable triggers from households.
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