TY -的T1 - f的全国性调查在德国atal asthma and near-fatal asthma in children: different entities? JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 845 LP - 849 VL - 16 IS - 5 AU - Schmitz, T AU - von Kries, R AU - Wjst, M AU - Schuster, A Y1 - 2000/11/01 UR - //www.qdcxjkg.com/content/16/5/845.abstract N2 - In adults fatal and near-fatal asthma have similar clinical characteristics. Therefore, near-fatal asthma in adults can be used as a model for fatal asthma. A nationwide study on fatal and near-fatal asthma in children <16 yrs was performed in order to assess whether, as in adults, near-fatal asthma can be used as a model for fatal asthma. From 1996 to 1998, all paediatric hospitals and paediatric pulmonologists in Germany were asked to report cases of fatal asthma and near-fatal asthma to a central survey unit (Erhebungseinheit fur seltene padiatrische Erkrankungen in Deutschland (ESPED)) on a monthly basis. All reports were followed by detailed questionnaires. Sixteen fatal and 45 near-fatal asthma cases were analysed. Fatal asthma patients were older than near-fatal asthma patients. Respiratory tract infections were frequently reported only in near-fatal asthma (47 versus 0%). The proportion of cases with rapid-type onset (duration of symptoms < or =1 h) was higher in fatal asthma (53 versus 14%). Long-term regular treatment with short acting beta2-agonists was common in both groups, but the use of concomitant inhaled corticosteroids was significantly lower in fatal asthma cases. A high proportion of poor compliance was observed in both groups. As fatal and near-fatal asthma differ significantly in important clinical aspects, analysis of near-fatal asthma might be of limited value in elucidating the causes of fatal asthma in children. ER -