Trends and sex differences in atrial fibrillation among patients hospitalized due to asthma: Insights from a nationwide population-based discharge database in Spain, 2016-2021.

AIMS: To analyze changes in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients hospitalized due to asthma; to compare hospital outcomes in asthma patients with and without AF, assessing sex differences; to identify variables associated with the presence of AF; and to analyze the factors associated with in-hospital mortality (IHM) among asthma patients with AF. METHODS: We used data from the Registry of Specialized Care Activity-Basic Minimum Data Set to select all patients aged ≥40 years with an asthma diagnosis in Spain, from 2016 to 2021. We stratified the study population according to the presence of AF and sex. RESULTS: We identified 65,233 hospitalizations that met the inclusion criteria (14.85 % with AF). The prevalence of AF significantly increased over time, with the male sex being a protective factor for its presentation. IHM were significantly higher in patients with AF. Older age, being a woman, congestive heart failure, renal disease, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and hyperthyroidism were associated with the presence of AF. Advanced age and the presence of cancer and COVID-19 were factors associated with a higher IHM, as well as admission to an intensive care unit and the use of invasive mechanical ventilation. There were no association of sex with the IHM. CONCLUSIONS: AF is highly prevalent among subjects hospitalized due to asthma, with this prevalence having increased significantly in Spain over time. The presence of AF in patients with asthma was associated significantly with a higher LOHS and IHM. Sex was not associated with IHM in these patients.

Trends in Anaphylaxis Hospitalizations among Adults in Spain and Their Relationship with Asthma-Analysis of Hospital Discharge data from 2016 to 2021.

(1) Background: Anaphylaxis is a rapid-onset, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction. This study explores the epidemiological trends and clinical outcomes of adult patients with and without asthma hospitalized for anaphylaxis in Spain from 2016 to 2021. (2) Methods: Data from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database (RAE-CMBD) were analyzed. We stratified patients with anaphylaxis based on their asthma diagnosis and evaluated various comorbidities and clinical outcomes. Propensity score matching was used to match confounders. (3) Results: The total number of hospitalizations for anaphylaxis remained stable, with a decrease in 2020 probably due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drug-induced anaphylaxis increased, in addition to being the main triggering factor. Asthma prevalence among those admitted for anaphylaxis emerged from 7.63% to 10.69%, with a higher frequency of respiratory failure and need for mechanical ventilation in this group; despite this, ICU admissions and in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between asthmatics and non-asthmatics. Asthma was also not a risk factor for severe anaphylaxis. Multivariable analysis identified advanced age, ischemic heart disease, acute respiratory failure, and invasive mechanical ventilation as factors associated with severe anaphylaxis. (4) Conclusions: This study provides valuable information on the complexity of anaphylaxis, its relationship with asthma, and factors influencing its severity. Overall, clinical outcomes did not differ significantly in asthmatic patients compared to non-asthmatic patients, although asthmatic patients had more respiratory complications. Further research is necessary to delve deeper into the multifactorial nature of anaphylaxis and its implications in clinical practice.

Trends and Hospital Outcomes in HOSPITAL Admissions for Anaphylaxis in Children with and without Asthma in Spain (2016-2021).

(1) Background: To assess and compare the temporal trends in the incidence, characteristics and hospital outcomes among children with and without asthma who were hospitalized with anaphylaxis in Spain from 2016 to 2021, and identify the variables associated with severe anaphylaxis among children with asthma. (2) Methods: An observational, retrospective study was conducted using a population-based database. The study population included pediatric patients with anaphylaxis. This population was stratified based on whether they had asthma. (3) Results: The number of hospital admissions was stable from 2016 to 2019, dropping in 2020 and raising to the highest number in 2021. A total of 60.63% of hospitalizations occurred in boys and the most common anaphylactic reactions were due to food consumption (67.28%), increasing over time. The in-hospital mortality (IHM) remained stable and under 1% in all the years studied. The incidence of anaphylaxis was 2.14 times higher in children with asthma than in those without asthma (IRR 2.14; 95% CI 1.87-2.44). Furthermore, it was 1.79 times higher in boys with asthma than in those without asthma (IRR 1.79; 95% CI 1.06-2.45) and 2.68 times higher in girls with asthma than in those without asthma (IRR 2.68; 95% CI 2.23-3.12). Asthma was not associated with severe anaphylaxis (OR 1.31; 95% CI 0.88-1.96). (4) Conclusions: The number of hospitalizations for anaphylaxis in children remained stable from 2016 to 2019, dropping in 2020 and recovering in 2021. IHM was low and remained stable during the study period. The incidence of hospitalizations for anaphylaxis was higher in asthmatic children than in non-asthmatics, but there were no differences in the occurrence of severe anaphylaxis among them.

Trends in asthma hospitalizations among adults in Spain: Analysis of hospital discharge data from 2011 to 2020.

AIMS: To analyze trends in asthma hospitalizations in patients over 15 years of age in Spain. To identify possible changes in incidence, demographic characteristics, clinical conditions, and outcomes. METHODS: We conducted an observational retrospective epidemiological study using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database and included all patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of asthma from 2011 to 2020. RESULTS: A total of 1,102,923 patients were hospitalized with a code for asthma in any diagnostic position; of these, 153,749 (13.94%) had asthma coded as the primary diagnosis (asthma exacerbation). The number of patients with an asthma exacerbation decreased over time, from 15,356 in 2011 to 8804 in 2020. In-hospital mortality (IHM) remained low (around 1.5%) and stable in this subgroup of patients. When the diagnosis of asthma appeared in any diagnostic position, hospitalizations increased for all ages and sexes. In this case, a significant change was observed for IHM, which increased from 3.27% in 2011-12 to 4.36% in 2019-20 (p < 0.001). The main risk factors for IHM in both cases were age over 65 years, need for mechanical ventilation, and associated diagnoses of pneumonia, heart disease, or atrial fibrillation. In contrast, obesity was a predictor of lower mortality. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a decline in the incidence of hospitalizations for asthma exacerbations from 2011 to 2020. In contrast, the number of patients with asthma in any diagnostic position increased progressively, as did mortality, probably owing to an increase in comorbidities in a gradually ageing population.