Potential predictors of relapse after treatment of asthma exacerbations in children.

Background: Knowledge of factors that affect relapse will allow close monitoring of patients at risk, resulting in a decreased rate of readmission to the emergency department.

Objective: To determine risk factors associated with relapse within 7 days after treatment of asthma exacerbations in children.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective study of children with asthma attacks. Patients between the ages of 6 months and 17 years who met the criteria between June 2009 and September 2012 were considered.

Results: The study included 1177 patients (775 males [65.8%]) with a mean (SD) age of 70.72 (48.24) months. Of them, 199 (16.9%) had a relapse within 1 week after being discharged from the hospital. Factors independently associated with relapse identified by a logistic regression model for the 1,177 study visits were having taken a short-acting inhaled β2-agonist within 6 hours before admission (odds ratio [OR], 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.728-3.426; P = .001), presence of retraction on physical examination (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.123-2.774; P = .01), no prescription for high-dose inhaled steroids on release (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.370-3.002; P < .001), and not being given a written instructional plan (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.080-2.226; P = .02).

Conclusion: Whereas having taken short-acting β2-agonists within 6 hours before admission and the presence of retractions on physical examination increased the risk of relapse after treatment of the acute attack, being given high-dose inhaled steroids and a written instructional plan when being sent home reduced the risk.