Predicting emergency department utilization in adults with asthma: A cohort study

A consecutive sample of 378 adults with asthma were assessed at a universit y asthma program and then then interviewed 1 year later regarding their nee d for emergency department (E.D.) asthma treatment. The purpose of this pro spective cohort study was to determine whether any of their initial feature s could predict their subsequent need for E.D. asthma treatment. Ar one yea r, a total of 73 of the subjects had attended emergency departments for ast hma. On entry, the 73 subjects had demonstrated more self-reported lifestyl e restriction from asthma and more hospital admissions E.D. visits for asth ma as well as poorer asthma control or than had the 305 subjects who had no r required E.D. asthma treatment since entry to the cohort. This study sugg ests that special attention should be paid to subjects with asthma that int erferes with their lifestyle and to those who have needed hospital admissio n for asthma.