Table 1

 Non-modifiable risk factors for hospital admission with acute asthma

Asthma admissions (AA)(n = 84)Stable asthma (SA)(n = 84)Inpatient control (IC)(n = 84)Odds ratio (95% CI)*p value*
*Comparisons of groups (AA v SA; AA v IC): conditional logistic regression.
†Median (range) in years.
‡OR refers to decreased risk with each additional year.
White ethnicity71 (84.5%)78 (92.9%)75 (89.3%)AA v SA: 0.5 (0.2 to 1.2)0.12
AA v IC: 0.7 (0.3 to 1.6)0.37
Maternal asthma21 (25.0%)33 (39.3%)11 (13.1%)AA v SA: 0.5 (0.3 to 1.0)0.06
AA v IC: 2.0 (0.9 to 4.3)0.07
Previous hospital asthma admission59 (70.2%)48 (57.1%)0 (0%)AA v SA: 1.6 (0.9 to 2.8)0.12
AA v IC: OR not defined
Duration of asthma†3.1 (0.1–14.7)4.7 (0.4–15.2)AA v SA: 0.8 (0.7 to 0.9)‡0.004
AA v IC: OR not defined
Hay fever25 (29.8%)29 (34.5%)8 (9.5%)AA v SA: 0.8 (0.4 to 1.5)0.51
AA v IC: 3.4 (1.5 to 8.0)0.004
Eczema48 (57.1%)47 (56.0)15 (17.9%)AA v SA: 1.1 (0.6 to 2.0)0.87
AA v IC: 7.6 (3.0 to 19.3)<0.001
Atopy: skin tests
At least 1 allergen72 (85.7%)51 (60.7%)26 (31.0%)AA v SA: 3.6 (1.7 to 7.9)0.001
AA v IC: 16.3 (5.1 to 52)<0.001
House dust mite56 (66.7%)44 (52.4%)23 (27.4%)AA v SA: 1.8 (0.9 to 3.2)0.07
AA v IC: 5.7 (2.6 to 12.8)<0.001
Cat36 (42.9%)28 (33.3%)4 (4.8%)AA v SA: 1.6 (0.8 to 3.1)0.19
AA v IC: 17 (4.1 to 71.0)<0.001
Dog32 (38.1%)17 (20.2%)2 (2.4%)AA v SA: 2.4 (1.2 to 4.8)0.017
AA v IC: OR not defined<0.001
Pollen48 (57.1%)40 (47.6%)16 (19.0%)AA v SA: 1.5 (0.8 to 2.9)0.20
AA v IC: 9.0 (3.2 to 25.3)<0.001
Atopy: IgE (GM and range; kU/l)
Total IgE438.8183.455.7AA v SA:1.20 (0.94 to 1.53)0.14
(5.0–6036)(2.0–9775)(2.0–4905)AA v IC: 1.77 (1.29 to 2.43)<0.001
Specific IgE mite20.35.20.79AA v SA: 1.13 (0.98 to 1.30)0.09
(0.35–955)(0.35–988)(0.35–251)AA v IC: 1.59 (1.23 to 2.06)<0.001
Specific IgE cat1.641.00.39AA v SA: 1.09 (0.90 to 1.32)0.40
(0.35–177)(0.35–356)(0.35–6.53)AA v IC: 2.64 (1.20 to 5.81)0.016
Specific IgE dog2.31.20.40AA v SA: 1.09 (0.89 to 1.32)0.40
(0.35–654)(0.35–366)(0.35–13.5)AA v IC: 2.20 (1.25 to 3.89)0.007
Specific IgE rye3.62.20.53AA v SA: 1.03 (0.87 to 1.22)0.76
(0.5–959)(0.35–428)(0.35–187)AA v IC: 1.73 (1.17 to 2.57)0.006