Treatments administered and complications occurring in those children who received escalation in therapy,* comparison of young (1–5 years) and older (6 to <18 years) children
| Total N=1020 | 1–5 years, N=725 | 6 to <18 years, N=295 | Unadjusted OR (95% CI) | P value† | |
| Intensive care admission, n (%) | 243 (23.8) | 171 (23.6) | 72 (24.4) | 1.04 (0.76 to 1.44) | 0.78 |
| Any respiratory support‡, n (%) | 609 (59.7) | 484 (66.8) | 125 (42.4) | 0.37 (0.28 to 0.48) | <0.001 |
| NHF therapy, n (%) | 603 (59.1) | 484 (66.8) | 119 (40.3) | 0.34 (0.26 to 0.45) | <0.001 |
| Non-invasive ventilation, n (%) | 20 (2) | 10 (1.4) | 10 (3.4) | 2.51 (1.03 to 6.09) | 0.04 |
| Intubation, n (%) | 4 (0.4) | 2 (0.3) | 2 (0.7) | 2.47 (0.35 to 17.6) | 0.35 |
| Any parenteral bronchodilator, n (%) | 589 (49.4) | 358 (49.4) | 231 (78.3) | 3.7 (2.71 to 5.06) | <0.001 |
| Magnesium alone | 292 (28.6) | 185 (25.5) | 107 (36.3) | N/A | <0.001 |
| Magnesium +aminophylline | 143 (14) | 78 (10.8) | 65 (22) | ||
| Magnesium +salbutamol | 60 (5.9) | 38 (5.2) | 22 (7.5) | ||
| Magnesium +aminophylline + salbutamol | 39 (3.8) | 22 (3) | 17 (5.8) | ||
| Aminophylline alone | 18 (1.8) | 13 (1.8) | 5 (1.7) | ||
| Parenteral epinephrine alone | 11 (1.1) | 7 (1)§ | 4 (1.4)¶ | ||
| Other combinations of intravenous bronchodilators | 22 (2.2) | 11 (1.5)** | 11 (3.7)†† | ||
| Other asthma treatment | |||||
| Heliox | 4 (0.4) | 4 (0.6) | 0 (0) | 0.71 (0.68 to 0.74) | 0.58‡‡ |
| Nebulised magnesium | 30 (2.9) | 17 (2.3) | 13 (4.4) | 1.92 (0.92 to 4.01) | 0.08 |
| Other treatments administered | |||||
| Potassium replacement | 152 (14.9) | 79 (10.9) | 73 (24.7)§§ | 2.69 (1.89 to 3.83) | <0.001 |
| Oral potassium replacement | 18 (1.8) | 4 (0.6) | 14 (4.7) | N/A | <0.001 |
| Intravenous potassium replacement | 140 (13.7) | 75 (10.3) | 65 (22) | ||
| Antiemetic administration | 167 (16.4) | 76 (10.5) | 91 (30.8) | 3.81 (2.7 to 5.37) | <0.001 |
| Antibiotics | 297 (29.1) | 220 (30.3) | 77 (26.1) | 0.81 (0.60 to 1.10) | 0.18 |
*Defined as any of intensive care admission, invasive or non-invasive respiratory support, or parenteral bronchodilator treatment.
†All p values calculated using χ2 test unless otherwise specified.
‡Defined as any of NHF therapy, non-invasive ventilation (CPAP or Bilevel NIV) or intubation.
§All epinephrine doses administered intramuscularly.
¶Three epinephrine doses administered intramuscularly, one by continuous infusion.
**Magnesium +salbutamol + epinephrine (1); Magnesium +epinephrine (2); Magnesium +aminophylline + salbutamol +epinephrine (1); Magnesium +aminophylline + epinephrine (1); Magnesium +aminophylline + salbutamol +ketamine (1); Salbutamol alone (2); Ketamine alone (1); Magnesium +aminophylline + adrenaline +ketamine (1); Magnesium +ketamine (1).
††Magnesium +salbutamol + epinephrine (4); Magnesium +epinephrine (1); Magnesium +aminophylline + salbutamol +epinephrine (2); Magnesium +aminophylline + epinephrine (1); Magnesium +aminophylline + salbutamol +ketamine (1); Aminophylline+epinephrine (1); Magnesium +aminophylline + ketamine (1).
‡‡Fisher’s exact test.
§§Six children aged 6–17 years had both oral and intravenous potassium replacement.
CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; NHF, nasal high flow therapy.NIV, non-invasive ventilation;