This study aimed to identify the risk factors and treatment types for asthma severity among adult patients by applying a retrospective study design. Descriptive statistics addressed the symptoms of asthma and corresponding medication prescription. An ordinal logistic regression model was applied to identify the risk factors of asthma severity based on the data obtained from regular follow-up of 422 adult asthma patients from September 11, 2012, to July 8, 2016, at the University of Gondar Teaching Hospital (UOGTH).
From 422 study units, the more commonly presenting asthma symptoms were coughing and wheezing, expressed by 52.13% and 50.9%, respectively. For the treatment type given to the patients, oxygen and prednisolone were highly distributed drugs to the patients in chronic illness, medication, and follow-up clinic of the University of Gondar Teaching Hospital (UOGTH), which were expressed by 73.5% and 35.5%, respectively. The proportional odd logit model was used to analyze asthma severity in patients; patients who were female (OR=1.68), a rural resident (OR=1.56), regular physical exercise (OR=2.39), allergen to pet (OR=3.17), had asthma in childhood (OR=2.27), had a family history (OR=1.89), and had depression (OR=2.31) were more likely to increase asthma severity than others. In the case of the regular cooker, the dry season was less likely to increase asthma severity.
Generally, the study presented the most common asthma symptoms and treatment types correspondingly. The study also showed that demographic, environmental, genetic, and health-related factors significantly affect asthma severity.
