Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research

Children in intensive care in England mostly come from poorer neighbourhoods, study suggests

Research shows that children from more deprived neighbourhoods in England represent the majority of asthma admissions, invasive ventilation and deaths in paediatric intensive care units

The first multi-centre study of paediatric intensive care units (PICU) in England has found that children from more deprived neighbourhoods represented the majority of asthma admissions, invasive ventilation and deaths.

The study from members of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research calls for enhanced asthma support in the community for children from poorer backgrounds.

The study

Despite asthma being more common in children in the UK compared to our European neighbours, data on asthma admissions in paediatric intensive care units had not been reported before this study.

Using electronic data from the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network (PICANet) between April 2006 and March 2013, researchers investigated admissions of children in England aged 0-14 who had been given an asthma diagnosis.

Statistics on asthma deaths for children aged 0-14 in England during the study period were sourced from the Office for National Statistics.

Linking these data to the National Statistics Postcode Directory, which has information on the English Index of Multiple Deprivation (EIMD), the investigators were able to identify the socio-economic status of those admitted to PICU because of their asthma, or who had died.

Results

The researchers found that the number of PICU admissions, the use of any form of ventilation and deaths were all higher in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived.

38% of PICU admissions for asthma came from most deprived neighbourhoods, and 11% from least deprived neighbourhoods.

Most admissions and mechanical ventilation occurred in preschool children, and deaths were more common in 10-14-year-olds.

Future implications

This study highlights the need to identify how to improve asthma outcomes for children, particularly those in poorer areas. Reductions in PICU admissions could be achieved by addressing the cause of acute asthma attacks through education and appropriate treatment.

Asthma education for children, parents and caregivers could help them act early in preventing acute asthma attacks from progressing. Delivered through social and healthcare settings, this could lead to reduced hospital and PICU admissions.

Reducing severe asthma attacks will require a coherent, consistent and cross-disciplinary approach (healthcare professionals, schools, third sector) to raise awareness of severe asthma and how children and parents/caregivers can reduce its impact.

Mome Mukherjee is lead author on this study. She reflected on how this study could help future reductions in PICU admissions:

This study is the first in England to identify an association between deprivation and asthma PICU admissions, ventilation and deaths. To reduce both hospital and PICU admissions, a focus on asthma education of children, parents/caregivers is urgently needed to act early in preventing acute asthma attacks from progressing which should be delivered in partnership between primary care and local schools.

Mome MukherjeeLead author on the study

This study was undertaken by several Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research members: Mome Mukherjee, Professor Steve Cunningham, Mohammad Romel Bhuia, Jasper V Been and Professor Aziz Sheikh.

Read the paper

This publication is available from Scientific Reports

Cite as

Mukherjee, M., Cunningham, S., Bhuia, M.R. et al. Asthma in paediatric intensive care in England residents: observational study. Sci Rep 12, 1315 (2022). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05414-5

 

Image: Asthma UK