title: Predictive factors of hospitalization in children with acute asthma at a university emergency care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study analyzed the factors that predicted the hospitalization of children with asthma following standardized treatment in emergency care unit (ECU).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study examined data collected from the clinical records of children, 14 years or younger, who were diagnosed with asthma (often with bronchopneumonia, pneumonia, or other illnesses) and treated at the ECU of Santo André from January 2005 to December 2009. The following data were analyzed: month and year of care, child's age and sex, period of observation, and need for hospitalization. A pediatrician confirmed the clinical diagnoses of all participants. The children were first given clinical treatments and were then admitted to ECU for follow-up assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of hospital admissions was analyzed, and correlations were found with regard to this variable and child age (χ(2) = 166.9; P = 0.00001), the presence of associated illnesses (χ(2) = 63.8; P < 0.00001), and the observation period length (χ(2) = 11.4; P = 0.009). The number of hospital admissions was not correlated with child sex (χ(2) = 0.013; P = 0.9) or time of year (χ(2) = 15.8; P = 0.1). The 3-day observation period was not significant (P = 0.4) with regard to the remainder of the variables in the multiple logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, mainly children younger than 1 year, the presence of associated illnesses, and the observation period length predicted the hospitalization of children with asthma following treatment in ECU. Sex and seasonality did not affect the need for hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: From the Faculdade de Medicina da Fundação ABC, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Mitie Ueda
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Rogério Tadeu
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Wilson Roberto
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Catapani
authors.forename: Jaques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waisberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003681:Dehydration / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology