Behavior of the status asthmaticus in adult patients at the Municipal Hospital of Remedios

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma represents a real health problem which is widely spread around the world; and it has had an important increase in our municipality. Objective: Describing the behavior of the patients with status asthmaticus during a 6 year period at the 26 th of December General Teaching Hospital in Remedios municipality. Method: A retrospective, descriptive and longitudinal study, including 200 patients with a positive diagnosis of this condition, was carried out. Results: The most frequent age group was between 20 and 30 years of age (42.55%). The non-white race was the most susceptible (75.0%). Among the risk factors the most important one was the exposure to large amounts of allergens (28.5%). Most of the cases (71.0%) were diagnosed in the secondary health care, and 49. 0 percent of the patients did not comply with the inter-crises treatment due to oversight. The clinical evolution two hours after the treatment showed an increase of 10.0 percent with respect to the first hour. Pneumonia was the main complication with 34.0 percent. Conclusions: The most frequent age group was between 20 and 30 years of age, the no-white race was predominant, the main risk factor was the exposure to large amounts of allergens. Among the causes of the lack of inter-crises treatment we found the carelessness of the patients. A positive evolution was seen after two hours of treatment, and pneumonia was the most frequent complication.