Estimating the Effects of Continuous Albuterol Dosage on Clinical
Outcomes for Pediatric Critical Asthma Exacerbation: A Retrospective
Cohort Study
Abstract
Introduction: Pediatric asthma exacerbations sometimes require
aggressive intervention including continuous albuterol, a cornerstone
therapy for reversing airway obstruction. However, pediatric dosing
typically follows adult guidelines, with limited evidence for specific
dosing ranges. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of a
reduced initial dose (10 mg/hr) of continuous albuterol with a standard
dose (15 mg/hr) in children hospitalized for critical asthma
exacerbations. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was
conducted at Riley Hospital for Children, analyzing pediatric patients
(ages 2-18) admitted with critical asthma exacerbations between 2014 and
2022. Stabilized inverse probability weighting (SIPW) was used to adjust
for confounding factors between groups. The primary outcome was the
percentage change in the Pediatric Asthma Severity Score (PASS) at 24
hours, with secondary outcomes including the duration of continuous
albuterol, PICU length of stay, and hospital length of stay.
Results: Analysis of 1,486 encounters revealed no significant
difference in percent PASS changes at 24 hours between the 10 mg/hr and
15 mg/hr groups (Additive Treatment Effect of 1.69, 95% CI: -0.93-4.31,
p = 0.207). PICU and hospital lengths of stay were also similar.
However, the 10 mg/hr group showed a significantly shorter duration of
continuous albuterol therapy compared to the 15 mg/hr group
(Multiplicative Treatment Effect of 1.29, 95% CI: 1.14-1.45, p
< 0.001). Conclusions: Findings suggested that
starting continuous albuterol at 10 mg/hr provides clinical outcomes
comparable to 15 mg/hr in managing pediatric critical asthma
exacerbations. A lower starting dose may optimize resource use and
reduce treatment-related adverse effects.