Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2005 Dec;25(4):284-290.

Recent Trend in Prevalence and Severity of Acute Asthma in an Emergency Room

Abstract

BACKGROUND
There have been few studies concerning the change in asthma severity in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the recent trend in the prevalence and severity of acute asthma at a hospital in Gwangju. METHOD: The charts of 332 adult asthma patients, who were selected randomly from 1,240 patients who visited the emergency department from 1996 to 2003 except 2000, were reviewed retrospectively. RESULT: The proportion of asthma to total visits increased progressively from 0.20% to 0.28%, 0.44%, 0.45%, 1.04%, 0.99%, and 0.98% (P<0.001). The proportion of patients with severe asthma attack (FEV1<50%) and the age also increased progressively (P<0.001, respectively), and there was increasing tendency in male sex. When compared between before and after 2000, the mean annual number of asthma patients increased 3.43 times from 87 to 298, and the mean proportion of asthma 2.90 times from 0.34% to 1.00%. The proportion of patients with severe asthma attack increased significantly (52.1% vs. 69.5%, P<0.01), and post-treatment FEV1 decreased significantly (69.1+/-2.6% vs. 63.3+/-1.6%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence and severity of acute asthma at a hospital in Gwangju was progressively increased from 1996 to 2003, with increases in age and the male sex, and irreversible airflow obstruction.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Asthma*
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Gwangju
Humans
Korea
Male
Prevalence*
Retrospective Studies