title: Age-specific characteristics of inpatients with severe asthma exacerbation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The characteristics of inpatients with severe asthma exacerbation remain unclear. It is considered that the characteristics of inpatients with severe asthma vary depending on age. However, these are rarely investigated. The objective of this study is to investigate the differences in characteristics among different age groups. We considered that it is necessary to understand the characteristics of each age group so that we can establish strategies in preventing severe asthma exacerbation.
  
  
  METHODS
  All asthma inpatients who were hospitalized between 2004 and 2011 with SpO2 <90% (in room air), were breathless at rest, and showed increased respiratory rate and pulse rate were examined. We compared the characteristics among the young age group, middle age group, and advanced age group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number of patients was 204. In the young age group, the percentages of patients with irregular visits and non visits to a medical institution were high. This group showed high percentages of smokers and pet owners. The percentage of continuous ICS users in this group was 25.9%. The middle age group had high rates of aspirin-intolerant asthma. The percentage of continuous ICS users in this group was 60.2%. In the advanced age group, the percentages of patients with hypertension/heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and COPD were high. This group showed good treatment adherence. The percentage of continuous ICS users in this group was 77.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristics of inpatients with severe asthma vary depending on age. We need to establish countermeasures for asthma exacerbation according to the characteristics of patients depending on age.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa 228-8522, Japan. k−sekiya@sagamihara−hosp.gr.jp
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekiya
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Yuma
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukutomi
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watai
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanimoto
authors.forename: Chiyako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oshikata
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsurikisawa
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuburai
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akiyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002415:Cats; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D057805:Pets; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011817:Rabbits; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology