Epidemiological study of patients with acute asthma attending accident and emergency department.

A study of episodes of asthma was conducted in patients attending the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) from August 1989 to July 1990. The total number of cases reporting to the A&E Department during this period was 89,178; of which 5,101 presented with episodes of asthma. The estimated prevalence of asthma was calculated to be 5.72% in relation to all other diseases reported to the A&E Department during this period; asthma was found more frequently among boys. A majority of patients with acute asthma attended the A&E Department during late afternoon and a night. Repeated episodes of asthma increased proportionately with age, and were more severe in males compared to females. A significant seasonal trend was noted, with two peaks noted during December and May. Hospital admissions for patients experiencing acute asthma was approximately 1.5% of all reported asthma episodes. No deaths were reported during the study period.