Follow up of asthmatic patients after admission to intensive care unit (ICU) due to an acute exacerbation

Introduction: According to guidelines (GEMMA909) previous admissions in ICU predispose to fatal asthma. However, discharge evolution is not well known Objetives: To identify the characteristics of asthma patients admitted to ICU, clinical course and evolution in the follow up Material and methods: Data of 42 patients admitted to ICU in 2007-2011: potential triggers, % intubation, complications and functional status Results: Epidemiological data: 42 patients (22 [female] / 20 [male]), age 45.26 ± 16.69. Atopy: 45%; smoking habit: 57%. Control by GP (47.6% ); pulmonologist (35.7%). 33% previous admissions (11% in ICU). Functional and treatment data ICU admission : Trigger: infection (54,8%). 33.3% intubations, with larger period in ICU (5 ± 3.74 days vs 2.29 ± 1.11). 3 patients (7,14%) died from asthma attack Follow up : Control by pulmonologist (80%). Evolution: 61% good control, 25% readmitted, 7,5% in ICU Conclusions: Most of patients have a good outcome: low mortality and intubation rates. ICU admission would not be a decisive criterion to define severity in the follow up We found differences in treatment (IC) before and after admission in the ICU.