The Particulars: Few analyses have explored risk factors associated with near-fatal asthma (NFA) in patients with severe treatment-resistant asthma.
Data Breakdown: In a retrospective analysis, researchers screened patients with treatment-resistant severe asthma who were categorized as to whether or not they had a history of NFA. When compared with patients without NFA, those with it were more likely to be male, have more steroid bursts in the past year, and have greater number of hospital admissions and ED visits in the past 2 years. Aspirin sensitivity (odds ratio [OR], 39.98) and the number of ED visits (OR, 1.01) were independently associated with NFA.
Take Home Pearl: A higher prevalence of aspirin sensitivity and greater number of ED visits appear to help differentiate NFA from patients without it among those with severe treatment-resistant asthma.
