History of symptom triggers in patients presenting to the emergency department for asthma.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Understanding triggers is important for managing asthma particularly for patients who seek emergency department (ED) care for exacerbations. The objectives of this analysis were to delineate self-reported triggers in ED patients and to assess associations between triggers and asthma knowledge, severity, and quality of life.

Methods

At the time of an ED visit, 296 patients were asked what were their usual asthma triggers based on a checklist of 25 potential items, and what they thought specifically precipitated their current ED visit. Using standardized scales, patients also were asked about asthma knowledge, severity, and quality of life.

Results

The mean age was 44 years and 72% were women. Patients cited a mean of 12 triggers; most patients had diverse tr

SUBMITTER: Peterson MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3423316 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature