Pattern and risk factors associated with hospital emergency visits among schoolboys with bronchial asthma in Al-Khobar.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of a history of hospital emergency visits (HHEV) among asthmatic Saudi schoolboys in the city of Al-Khobar and factors associated with such visits.


METHODS
The methodology included the distribution of a self-administered questionnaire, which was completed by the parents of 1482 schoolboys who satisfied the selection criteria of the study.


RESULTS
The prevalence rate of questionnaire-diagnosed asthma (QDA) was 9.5%. The prevalence rate of a positive HHEV among QDA boys (QDAs0 was 65%. Positive HHEV among QDAs was associated significantly with those who were younger (P <0.00001), with decreasing levels of socioeconomic class (P <0.00001), histories of pets at home (P <0.00001), presence of a currently smoking family member (P <0.00001), and/or a smoking father (P <0.00001), with mean period of school absenteeism (P <0.00001), and previous admission to hospital (P <0.05). It was also significantly associated with concomitant use of prophylactic medication(s) (P <0.00001). The multiple linear regression equation for the total number of hospital emergency visits during the current academic year was generated.


CONCLUSIONS
Asthmatic school children have a relatively higher rate of HHEV compared to the normal population. Modifying the preventable factors associated with the total number of hospital emergency visits is expected to decrease the severity and the disability associated with this disease.
Al-Dawood
Kasim M
KM
Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.