TY - JOUR T1 - Serious asthma exacerbations in a hospital setting JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P4043 AU - Teresa Martín AU - Fernando Meneses AU - Margarida Castanho AU - Helena Grumete AU - Jorge Roldão Vieira Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P4043.abstract N2 - Serious asthma exacerbations (SAE), defined as at least 1 hospitalization, ICU stay or mechanical ventilation in the previous year, are part of the definition of uncontrolled asthma. The aim of this study was to characterize patients (pts) with SAE admitted in a tertiary general hospital as well as readmissions in the 1st year after discharge.Methods: The authors reviewed the clinical records of all pts admitted with SAE in 2012 dividing them in 2 groups: with or without inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment before admission.Results: From a total of 38 pts, mean age 53,5y (17-93), 13 were male (34,2%) and 6 were smokers (13.35%). Both groups had 19 pts - ICS group, mean 57,8y (26-93); non ICS group, mean 49,1y (17-80).In the non ICS group the duration of lack of asthma control before admission was longer. In the ICS group there was a higher proportion of respiratory tract infections (52,6% vs 15,8%) and a longer hospitalization.There were no differences in the need of mechanical ventilation between the 2 groups (4 pts per group – 21%). There was 1 fatal exacerbation in the ICS group. In the ICS group there was a lower rate of emergency room visits and hospitalizations than in the non ICS group (26% vs 47%; 5,2% vs 21%).Conclusion: Despite being a small series of pts, our study recognized the importance of SAE as a major risk factor in asthma, confirmed by the high number of ventilated pts. ICS as a maintenance therapy did not prevent exacerbations suggesting a more severe disease. ICS were associated with respiratory tract infections, confirming the need of vaccination in this population. The higher rate of emergency room visits and hospitalizations in pts without previous ICS is possibly due to a poorer compliance. ER -