Abstract
Background and Aims: A national review of 195 asthma deaths within the UK found significant numbers to be avoidable[1] and patients from an ethnic minority group (EMG) have been shown to have more frequent acute admissions and greater morbidity [1],[2]. People from an EMG make up over 30% of our local population. We aimed to assess the impact of ethnicity on exacerbation severity, precipitating risk factors and hospital admission in patients with acute asthma exacerbations.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the notes of patients presenting with acute asthma exacerbation over 4-weeks (September 2014). Baseline data included demographics, language spoken, ethnicity and smoking history. Exacerbation severity was recorded as per national guidelines
Results: Of a total 87 patients 58 (67%) were from an EMG, 25 (29%) were white and 4 (4%) had no recorded ethnicity. 10 (17%) EMG patients smoked compared to 4 (16%) of the white group and 3 (5%) EMG patients had run out of inhalers. 24 (45%) EMG patients had severe/life-threatening features compared to 12 (48%) white patients. However, only 12 (21%) EMG patients compared to 9 (36%) white patients were eventually admitted.
Conclusion: Within our cohort EMG patients presented more frequently but with similar exacerbation severity to white patients. Despite similar severity fewer EMG patients were admitted and reasons for this should be explored. Furthermore, risk factors for exacerbation such as poor inhaler compliance and smoking were more common within the EMG group and these should be also addressed.
Why asthma still kills, RCP MAY 2014.
Netuveli, G et al. The Lancet 2005; 365: 9456, 312-317.
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