Demographic and pharmacotherapeutic profile of children hospitalized with asthma exacerbation in a university hospital: possible social and economic consequences

• Autor(a) principal: Bertolini Fajardo, Júlia
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Barbosa Fernandes, Laura, Rosa Meurer, Igor, Machado Minateli, Milene, Resende Avelino, Natália
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: HU Revista (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufjf.br/index.php/hurevista/article/view/34079
• topic: Asthma; Pediatrics; Hospitalization; Drug Therapy; Asma; Pediatria; Hospitalização; Tratamento Farmacológico

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease with high prevalence in childhood, being the third leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations in Brazilian Unique Healthcare System. Pharmacotherapeutic problems, underdiagnosis, poor access to health services and individual characteristics are some of the main factors related to poor asthma control and increased direct and indirect costs. Objetive: To characterize the demographic and pharmacotherapeutic profile of children hospitalized with asthma exacerbation at a local hospital, correlating pharmacotherapy problems and hospitalization rates with increased asthma admission costs. Material and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study involving asthmatic users aged 0-17 years hospitalized in the pediatric ward, from January to December 2019. Data were collected from electronic health records, discharge summary and Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System and described in terms of mean, standard deviation and distribution. Results: In the present study, most children had episodes of hospital readmission and high underdiagnosis rates. Low rates of regular follow-up and use of preventive asthma medication were found. As a result, asthma admission costs were high in 2019 when compared to other respiratory diseases in children. The study showed that 1-4 year-old boys were the most affected group. In addition, environmental and genetic asthma risk factors were frequently reported. Conclusion: Studies which aim to identify demographic and pharmacotherapeutical profile of children with asthma with recurrent exacerbations enable the development of public efforts focused on asthmatic child' care. Thus, it will be possible to reduce exacerbations and pediatric hospitalization for asthma and, consequently, optimize the allocation of public health resources.