Background Although reported risk factors for severe anaphylaxis include older age, presence of comorbid medical conditions, and concomitant medications, previous studies have used varying ...definitions for anaphylaxis and heterogeneous methodology. Objective To describe risk factors for severe anaphylaxis among US patients treated in emergency departments (EDs) or hospitals for anaphylaxis. Methods Individuals with an ED visit/hospitalization for anaphylaxis were identified from 2 MarketScan Research Databases using an expanded International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code algorithm. Eligibility for the current study required continuous medical and prescription coverage for at least 1 year before and after the index date. Severe anaphylaxis was defined as a reaction requiring hospital admission. Results Among 11,972 individuals, 2,622 (22%) had severe anaphylaxis. Unadjusted analysis showed that severe anaphylaxis was associated with older age and higher comorbidity burden. These patients were also less likely to have filled an epinephrine autoinjector (EAI) prescription or visited an allergist/immunologist, but more likely to have had an ED visit/hospitalization (any cause). On multivariable analysis, filling an EAI prescription (odds ratio OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.53-0.78) or visiting an allergist/immunologist (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.63-0.95) before the index event was associated with a lower risk of severe anaphylaxis, while any previous ED visit (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07-1.30) or hospitalization (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.36-1.75) was associated with a higher risk of severe anaphylaxis. Conclusions In this large cohort with an ED visit or hospitalization for anaphylaxis, 22% had severe anaphylaxis. Pre-index preventive anaphylaxis care (ie, EAI prescription fill and allergist/immunologist visit) was associated with a significantly lower risk, supporting the benefits of preventive anaphylaxis care in real-world practice.
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Background It remains unclear whether the quality of acute asthma care in US emergency departments (EDs) has improved over time. Objectives We investigated changes in concordance of ED asthma care ...with 2007 National Institutes of Health guidelines, identified ED characteristics predictive of concordance, and tested whether higher concordance was associated with lower risk of hospitalization. Methods We performed chart reviews in ED patients aged 18 to 54 years with asthma exacerbations in 48 EDs during 2 time periods: 1997-2001 (2 prior studies) and 2011-2012 (new study). Concordance with guideline recommendations was evaluated by using item-by-item quality measures and composite concordance scores at the patient and ED levels; these scores ranged from 0 to 100. Results The analytic cohort comprised 4039 patients (2119 from 1997-2001 vs 1920 from 2011-2012). Over these 16 years, emergency asthma care became more concordant with level A recommendations at both the patient and ED levels (both P < .001). By contrast, concordance with non–level A recommendations (peak expiratory flow measurement and timeliness) decreased at both the patient (median score, 75 interquartile range, 50-100 to 50 interquartile range, 33-75, P < .001) and ED (mean score, 67 SD, 7 to 50 SD, 16, P < .001) levels. Multivariable analysis demonstrated ED concordance was lower in Southern and Western EDs compared with Midwestern EDs. After adjusting for severity, guideline-concordant care was associated with lower risk of hospitalization (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.26-0.53). Conclusions Between 1997 and 2012, we observed changes in the quality of emergency asthma care that differed by level of guideline recommendation and substantial interhospital and geographic variations. Greater concordance with guideline-recommended management might reduce unnecessary hospitalizations.
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Children with bronchiolitis often are considered a homogeneous group. However, in a multicenter, prospective study of 2207 young children hospitalized for bronchiolitis, we found that children with ...respiratory syncytial virus detected differ from those with rhinovirus detected; the latter patients resemble older children with asthma, including more frequent treatment with corticosteroids.
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The clinical epidemiology of acute allergic reactions in the emergency department (ED) is uncertain.
To characterize ED visits for acute allergic reactions and to evaluate national trends in ED ...management.
The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey was used to identify a nationally representative sample of ED visits between 1993 and 2004. Cases with a diagnosis of acute allergic reaction were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes (9950, 9951, 9952, 9953, 9956).
A total of 12.4 million allergy-related ED visits occurred from 1993 to 2004, representing 1.0% (95% confidence interval, 0.93%-1.10%) of all ED visits or 1.03 million ED visits per year. The number of allergy-related ED visits remained relatively stable, averaging 3.8 per 1,000 US population per year (95% confidence interval, 3.4-4.1; P for trend = .39). Although 63% of all visits were coded as urgent, only 4% required hospitalization. Anaphylaxis coding was rare (1%). ED staff prescribed medications in 87% of visits, especially histamine, blockers (62%; P for trend = .29). Increases were noted from 1993 to 2004 for corticosteroids (22% to 50%; P < .001), histamine2 blockers (7% to 18%; P < .001), and inhaled beta-agonists (2% to 6%; P = .008). Epinephrine use was infrequent and declining (19% to 7%; P = .04).
Between 1993 and 2004, significant variability has occurred in ED management of acute allergic reactions.
Abstract Introduction While geriatric trauma patients have begun to receive increased attention, little research has investigated assault-related injuries among older adults. Our goal was to describe ...characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of geriatric assault victims and compare them both to geriatric victims of accidental injury and younger assault victims. Patients and methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the 2008–2012 National Trauma Data Bank. We identified cases of assault-related injury admitted to trauma centers in patients aged ≥60 using the variable “intent of injury.” Results 3564 victims of assault-related injury in patients aged ≥60 were identified and compared to 200,194 geriatric accident victims and 94,511 assault victims aged 18–59. Geriatric assault victims were more likely than geriatric accidental injury victims to be male (81% vs. 47%) and were younger than accidental injury victims (67 ± 7 vs. 74 ± 9 years). More geriatric assault victims tested positive for alcohol or drugs than geriatric accident victims (30% vs. 9%). Injuries for geriatric assault victims were more commonly on the face (30%) and head (27%) than for either comparison group. Traumatic brain injury (34%) and penetrating injury (32%) occurred commonly. The median injury severity score (ISS) for geriatric assault victims was 9, with 34% having severe trauma (ISS ≥ 16). Median length of stay was 3 days, 39% required ICU care, and in-hospital mortality was 8%. Injury severity was greater in geriatric than younger adult assault victims, and, even when controlling for injury severity, in-hospital mortality, length of hospitalization, and need for ICU-level care were significantly higher in older adults. Conclusions Geriatric assault victims have characteristics and injury patterns that differ significantly from geriatric accidental injury victims. These victims also have more severe injuries, higher mortality, and poorer outcomes than younger victims. Additional research is necessary to improve identification of these victims and inform treatment strategies for this unique population.
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Methods We performed chart review for patients with insect sting-induced acute allergic reactions seen in one of ten EDs during two distinct time periods: 1999-2001 (prior study) and 2013-2015 (new ...study).
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Methods We performed chart review for patients with food-induced acute allergic reactions seen in one of twelve EDs during two time periods: 1999-2001 and 2013-2015.
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Abstract Objective Among children hospitalized with bronchiolitis, we examined the associations between in utero exposure to maternal cigarette smoking, postnatal tobacco smoke exposure, and risk of ...admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods We performed a 16-center, prospective cohort study of hospitalized children aged <2 years with a physician admitting diagnosis of bronchiolitis. For 3 consecutive years, from November 1, 2007 until March 31, 2010, site teams collected data from participating families, including information about prenatal maternal smoking and postnatal tobacco exposure. Analyses used chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Kruskal-Wallis tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results Among 2207 enrolled children, 216 (10%) had isolated in utero exposure to maternal smoking, 168 (8%) had isolated postnatal tobacco exposure, and 115 (5%) experienced both. Adjusting for age, sex, race, birth weight, viral etiology, apnea, initial severity of retractions, initial oxygen saturation, oral intake, and postnatal tobacco exposure, children with in utero exposure to maternal smoking had greater odds of being admitted to the ICU (adjusted odds ratio aOR 1.51, 95% confidence interval CI 1.14–2.00). Among children with in utero exposure to maternal smoking, those with additional postnatal tobacco exposure had a greater likelihood of ICU admission (aOR 1.95, 95% CI 1.13–3.37) compared to children without postnatal tobacco smoke exposure (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.05–2.04). Conclusions Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy puts children hospitalized with bronchiolitis at significantly higher risk of intensive care use. Postnatal tobacco smoke exposure may exacerbate this risk. Health care providers should incorporate this information into counseling messages.
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Research on the use of more than 1 dose of epinephrine in the treatment of food-induced anaphylaxis is limited.
To perform a medical record review to examine the frequency of repeated epinephrine ...treatments in patients presenting with food-induced anaphylaxis to the emergency department (ED).
We reviewed 39 medical records of patients who presented with food-induced allergic reactions to the Massachusetts General Hospital ED during a 1-year period. The analysis focused on the timing of the onset of symptoms and on the number of epinephrine treatments given before and during the ED visit.
Of the 39 patients, 34 had an acute food-induced allergic reaction. Nineteen had anaphylaxis. Twelve patients with anaphylaxis (63%; 95% confidence interval, 38%-84%) received at least 1 dose of epinephrine, and 3 (16%; 95% confidence interval, 3%-40%) were given 2 doses. Although statistical analysis was not possible, repeated epinephrine treatment occurred in patients with anaphylaxis to peanut or tree nut and hypotension. There was no apparent association between time from ingestion of the causative agent to epinephrine treatment(s).
Of patients presenting to the ED with food-induced anaphylaxis, approximately 16% were treated with 2 doses of epinephrine. This study supports the recommendation that patients at risk for food-induced anaphylaxis carry 2 doses of epinephrine. Further study is needed to confirm these results and to expand them to patients who do not present to the ED because that group may have a lower frequency of epinephrine use.
Anaphylaxis in the community: Learning from the survivors Simons, F. Estelle R., MD, FRCPC, FAAAAI; Clark, Sunday, MPH, ScD; Camargo, Carlos A., MD, DrPH, FAAAAI
Journal of allergy and clinical immunology,
08/2009, Volume:
124, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Background Most studies of anaphylaxis in the community focus on persons at risk who might, or might not, have experienced anaphylaxis. Objective We sought to focus on survivors of anaphylaxis in the ...community and their experiences in using, or not using, an epinephrine autoinjector for first-aid treatment. Methods An e-mail survey was conducted. Responses were anonymous and could not be traced to any person or location. Anaphylaxis was defined as the most severe sudden-onset allergic reaction ever experienced by the participants or a person for whom they were responsible (eg, a child). There were 17 core multiple-choice questions for all participants, with 16 additional questions for users who injected epinephrine either into themselves or someone else, and 1 additional question for nonusers. Results Of the 1885 participants, 500 (27%) were epinephrine users, and 1385 (73%) were nonusers. The groups were similar with regard to multisystem organ involvement (82% vs 78%, P = .07) and many other aspects of anaphylaxis; however, epinephrine users were more likely (all P < .05) to report respiratory or shock symptoms; to report peanut, fish, or insect sting triggers; to be asthmatic; and to have taken or been given asthma medication on the day of the episode. Epinephrine users reported problems in deciding whether to give the injection, repeat the dose, and/or go to an emergency department. Nonusers reported not injecting epinephrine for various reasons, including use of an H1 -antihistamine (38%), no prescription for epinephrine (28%), and/or a mild anaphylaxis episode (13%). Conclusions In a unique population composed of 1885 survivors of anaphylaxis in the community, users of epinephrine autoinjectors for first-aid treatment were outnumbered by nonusers. The insights reported by epinephrine users and the reasons why nonusers did not inject epinephrine are documented.
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