Certain factors may increase the risk of an exacerbation in a patient with asthma.
Patient selection: asthma
Outcome: exacerbation (flare up)
Risk factors for an exacerbation:
(1) uncontrolled asthma
(2) inadequate therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (not prescribed or poor adherence)
(3) incorrect inhaler technique
(4) high SABA (short-actng beta-agonist) use
(5) low FEV1 (especially if < 60% of predicted)
(6) higher bronchodilator reversibility
(7) major psychological problems
(8) major socioecnomic problems
(9) exposure to smoke
(10) inhalation exposure to allergens that sensitized to
(11) comorbidities (obesity, chronic rhinosinusitis, food allergy)
(12) sputum or blood eosinophilia
(13) elevated fraction of exhaled nitrous oxide (FeNO) in an allergic patient taking inhaled corticosteroids
(14) pregnancy
(15) ever been intubated for asthma
(16) ever been admitted to the ICU for asthma
(17) having 1 or more severe exacerbations in the past 12 months
