Epidemiological Analysis of Hospitalized Children with Acute Asthma Exacerbation Over 30 Years

Objectives: To provide an evidence-based reference for preventing and managing pediatric acute asthma exacerbations by examining epidemiology and long-term trends of hospitalized cases in Beijing over 30 years. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical data from children hospitalized for acute asthma exacerbation at Peking University Third Hospital from 1994 to 2023. Data included demographics, onset timing, and hospital stay duration. Participants were categorized into three age groups: toddlerhood (≥1–3 years), preschool age (≥3–7 years), and school age (≥7–15 years) to assess the distribution of pediatric patients across different years, seasons, and months. Results: The study included 1,106 pediatric patients (65.73% male, 34.27% female) with a median age of 4 years. Hospitalizations peaked in 1999 (8.40%) and declined, reaching the lowest point in 2020 (1.45%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most admissions occurred in autumn (34.27%), especially in October (13.29%). Preschool and school-age children had higher admissions in autumn, while infants had more admissions in winter and spring. The average hospital stay was 5.35 ± 2.65 days, longest for infants, with no deaths reported. Conclusions: Over 30 years, pediatric hospitalizations for acute asthma exacerbations in Beijing have declined. The majority of patients were male and preschool-age, with peak admissions in autumn. These findings suggest improved asthma management but highlight the need for enhanced prevention and management strategies, especially for male patients, school-age children, and during autumn, to reduce acute exacerbations and hospitalizations. The results suggest that while asthma management for children has improved, further enhancement of prevention and control strategies is still needed. Targeted efforts to reduce acute exacerbations and hospitalizations remain crucial.