Decade of Asthma ICU Admissions Reveals Age Gap
A decade-long study in Ontario, Canada, revealed that asthma intensive care unit (ICU) admissions remained stable in adults but significantly increased among children, particularly those aged 0-5 years, from 2013-2022. Despite the rise in pediatric admissions, in-hospital mortality did not change, suggesting factors like increased noninvasive ventilation or changing admission practices might be at play rather than worsening physiological severity.
Why it matters
This research highlights a concerning trend in pediatric asthma care, prompting further investigation into underlying causes and potential interventions to reduce ICU admissions in children. It also informs public health strategies for asthma management and resource allocation.
ASTHMA intensive care unit (ICU) admissions remained stable in adults but rose significantly among children, Ontario’s decade-long population study found.
The retrospective study analyzed health administrative data for Ontario residents aged 0–59 years with prevalent asthma from 2013–2022. After excluding people aged 60 or older and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the cohort included 1.96 million people. Among 52,919 patients hospitalized for asthma or an asthma-related condition, 71,258 admissions occurred and 7,870, or 11%, required ICU care. Despite advances in asthma treatment, the overall burden of ICU care did not decline.
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