[Characteristics of asthma patients who need repeated hospitalization; frequency of use of systemic corticosteroids, emergency and unscheduled hospital visits and habitual use of sleeping pills].

Background: This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of frequently hospitalized patients.

Methods: The clinical characteristics of 310 cases having hospitalization episodes (206 patients) for asthma attack analyzed retrospectively based on their clinical records.

Results: Nineteen out of the 206 patients were hospitalized more than just three times during the study period. Mean age (once hospitalization group 50.0+/-1.5 y.o., twice- 53.0+/-2.6 y.o., > or = 3 times- 56.6+/-2.0 y.o., p=0.02) and the ratio of female (once- 55.2%, twice- 61.5%, > or = 3 times- 78.9%, p=0.04) were higher among the groups. The frequency of use of systemic corticosteroids (once- 23.6%, twice- 50.0%, > or = 3 times- 59.8%, p<0.01), emergency and unscheduled hospital visits (once- 0.5+/-0.1 times/6M, twice- 1.3+/-0.3 times/6M, > or = 3 times- 2.7+/-0.2 times/6M, p<0.01), and habitual use of sleeping pills (once- 11.8%, twice- 30.8%, > or = 3 times- 47.4%, p<0.01) were significantly different among the groups.

Conclusion: Among the patients who need repeated hospitalization, the frequency of use of systemic corticosteroids, emergency and unscheduled hospital visits, and habitual use of sleeping pills were higher.