Objective: This study analyzed the factors that predicted the hospitalization of children with asthma following standardized treatment in emergency care unit (ECU).
Methods: This retrospective study examined data collected from the clinical records of children, 14 years or younger, who were diagnosed with asthma (often with bronchopneumonia, pneumonia, or other illnesses) and treated at the ECU of Santo André from January 2005 to December 2009. The following data were analyzed: month and year of care, child's age and sex, period of observation, and need for hospitalization. A pediatrician confirmed the clinical diagnoses of all participants. The children were first given clinical treatments and were then admitted to ECU for follow-up assessment.
Results: The number of hospital admissions was analyzed, and correlations were found with regard to this variable and child age (χ(2) = 166.9; P = 0.00001), the presence of associated illnesses (χ(2) = 63.8; P < 0.00001), and the observation period length (χ(2) = 11.4; P = 0.009). The number of hospital admissions was not correlated with child sex (χ(2) = 0.013; P = 0.9) or time of year (χ(2) = 15.8; P = 0.1). The 3-day observation period was not significant (P = 0.4) with regard to the remainder of the variables in the multiple logistic regression analysis.
Conclusions: Age, mainly children younger than 1 year, the presence of associated illnesses, and the observation period length predicted the hospitalization of children with asthma following treatment in ECU. Sex and seasonality did not affect the need for hospitalization.