title: Characteristics of asthma patients admitted to an intermediate respiratory care unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intermediate respiratory care units (IRCU) provide continuous monitoring and non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) in patients with severe respiratory failure who are usually admitted to intensive care units (ICU). The usefulness of IRCU in managing severe asthma exacerbations has never been evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data were prospectively and systematically compiled from patients admitted to the IRCU with a principal diagnosis of bronchial asthma exacerbation. We assessed therapeutic failure (intubation or exitus) and patient evolution up until 6 months after discharge compared with a group of patients admitted to a conventional hospital ward, paired for age and sex, and with the same principal diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 74 asthma patients were included (37 admitted to IRCU and 37 to the hospital ward) with a mean age (±SD) of 58±20, who were predominantly women (67%), with previous diagnosis of asthma and persistent asthma treatment. The main cause of admittance to the IRCU was severe respiratory failure. The patients who were admitted to the IRCU presented more radiological affectation (alveolar infiltrates) and had significantly higher pCO(2). Ten patients admitted to the IRCU required NIMV. There were no differences between the two groups regarding either therapeutic failure or the 6-month follow-up after discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with severe asthma exacerbations can be managed in an IRCU while avoiding hospitalization in an ICU and demonstrating a prognosis similar to milder exacerbations treated in conventional hospital wards.
authors: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors: Belén
authors: B
authors: Núñez
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Fiorentino
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Kersul
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Belda
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: García
authors: Catalina
authors: C
authors: Gutiérrez
authors: Ernest
authors: E
authors: Sala
authors: Borja
authors: B
authors: Cosío
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012124:Respiratory Care Units