699 Factors Involved in the Postponing of Asthma Diagnosis in Children

Objective: To identify factors with impact on postponing the diagnosis of asthma in children. Method: Cross-sectional analysis of paediatric asthma cases from a Regional Centre for Asthma. Age of onset for symptoms and age of diagnosis of asthma in children, and potential risk factors of delay of diagnosis were analysed using multivariable linear statistics. Primary end-point was the ratio: age of the children at the time of the asthma diagnosis (years) vs. duration of asthma-like symptoms at the time of the diagnosis (years). Results: The data base included 45 cases, (i.e. 26 boys, age 6,3+/-;3,2 yrs.). Independent risk factors for the delayed asthma diagnosis were: the absence of asthma history in parents and/or siblings (OR: 24,8 and 95%CI: 6,2 to 95,3), the absence of atopy (OR: 18,2 and 95%CI: 5,3 to 62,1), the absence of allergic rhinitis symptoms (OR: 14,5 and 95%CI: 4,8 to 42,7). Family income, level of the education for the parents/caregivers, and living in rural areas did not significantly postponed the diagnosis. Conclusion: Collected data support the recommendation of increased practitioner awareness towards asthma detection in the presence of certain risk factors in children with asthma-like symptoms