Introduction: Risk factors for life-threatening asthma resulting in intubation and ventilation are well documented in the international literature. Patients and health systems differ and it is not known whether such risk factors apply to the Fijian population. This study documents the prevalence of risk factors and describes the outcomes of patients who were intubated for severe asthma in Suva, Fiji. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of patients intubated for asthma at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital between December 2012 and January 2014 Results: There were 53 patients with 64 intensive care admission episodes. There were equal numbers of males and females. Regarding the risk factors identified from other studies, 75% of our study population reported increased beta agonist use and 32% reported increased inhaled steroid use. 68% had previous hospital admissions for asthma and 23% had been previously intubated. Twenty-one percent of the patients died during admission. Most deaths were due to hypoxic brain injury following cardio-respiratory arrest on presentation to hospital. At one year follow up, 15% of the discharged patients had died and 4 % had suffered another severe asthma attack resulting in intubation. Conclusion Internationally-reported risk factors were present in similar proportions in our study population. This suggests similar strategies should be employed to reduce morbidity and mortality from asthma in Fiji. These include: improving asthma education among patients and clinicians, increasing utilization of preventer medications, use of a spacer devices and asthma action plans.

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Encephalitis* ; Glioma* ; Humans

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Carcinoid Tumor* ; Cerebellar Ataxia*