Inhaled beta agonists, inhaled corticosteroids, and the risk of intensive care unit admission and endotracheal intubation for asthma: medications dispensed during the 3-month interval preceding hospitalization
| Medication | n (%) | Risk of ICU admission n=309 | Risk of intubation n=155 | ||
| Unadjusted OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR (95% CI)# | Unadjusted OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR (95% CI) | ||
| Inhaled beta agonists | |||||
| None | 794 (34) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.00 | 1.0 |
| Low (1 unit) | 336 (14) | 0.7 (0.4–1.1) | 0.8 (0.5–1.2) | 0.7 (0.4–1.3) | 0.8 (0.4–1.6) |
| Medium (2–3 units) | 462 (20) | 1.1 (0.8–1.5) | 1.1 (0.8–1.7) | 1.5 (0.9–2.3) | 1.6 (1.0–2.7) |
| High (≥4 units) | 752 (32) | 1.5 (1.1–1.9) | 1.4 (1.0–2.0) | 1.8 (1.2–2.7) | 1.9 (1.2–3.1) |
| Inhaled corticosteroids | |||||
| None | 1298 (55) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Low (1 unit) | 305 (13) | 0.7 (0.5–1.1) | 0.7 (0.5–1.1) | 0.7 (0.4–1.2) | 0.7 (0.4–1.2) |
| Medium (2–3 units) | 383 (16) | 0.9 (0.7–1.3) | 0.7 (0.5–1.0) | 1.1 (0.7–1.7) | 0.8 (0.5–1.3) |
| High (≥4 units) | 358 (15) | 1.0 (0.7–1.4) | 0.7 (0.4–0.96) | 1.1 (0.7–1.8) | 0.7 (0.4–1.1) |
| Oral corticosteroids | |||||
| None | 1247 (53) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Low (1 unit) | 624 (27) | 0.7 (0.5–0.9) | 0.6 (0.4–0.9) | 0.8 (0.5–1.2) | 0.7 (0.5–1.1) |
| High (≥2 units) | 473 (20) | 0.9 (0.6–1.3) | 0.8 (0.5–1.2) | 0.9 (0.5–1.5) | 0.8 (0.5–1.4) |
| Steroid dependant | 568 (24) | 1.7 (1.2–2.4) | 1.4 (1.0–2.0) | 1.7 (1.1–2.6) | 1.3 (0.8–2.1) |
medications dispensed during the 3 months prior to index hospitalization; for inhaled beta agonists and inhaled steroids, 1 unit=1 metered dose inhaler; for oral steroids, 1 unit=1 prescription filled (∼1 month supply)
odds ratios from multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for other variables shown in table, plus methylxanthines, oral beta agonists, ipratroprium bromide, inhaled nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, nasal medications, nebulized beta agonists, age, sex, and race
steroid dependant defined as ≥3 prescriptions during the past 12 months.