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. 2019 Apr-Jun;14(2):155-160.
doi: 10.4103/atm.ATM_258_18.

Fatal and near-fatal thunderstorm asthma epidemic in a desert country

Fatima Ali  1 , Naser Behbehani  1 , Noura Alomair  2 , Assad Taher  2
Affiliations

Fatal and near-fatal thunderstorm asthma epidemic in a desert country

Fatima Ali et al. Ann Thorac Med. 2019 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Background: Reports of thunderstorm asthma in the Middle East are few. This study is the first to report on cases of near-fatal and fatal thunderstorm asthma in Kuwait on December 1, 2016.

Methods: We conducted a chart review and interview with adult patients admitted to Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital with near-fatal asthma, defined as an exacerbation requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation or hypercapnia with a PaCO2≥6 kPa. Information, including patient age, gender, occupation, asthma history, medication usage, and clinical outcome, was collected. For fatal asthma cases, patients' data were collected from the Forensic Department at the Kuwait Ministry of Interior.

Results: A total of 17 patients were admitted with near-fatal asthma. Fifteen patients (93.8%) had a prior history of asthma, with an average duration of 9 years. Five patients (33.3%) reported receiving a corticosteroid inhaler from their physician. Fifteen patients (93.8%) reported relying on a short-acting β2-agonist alone to manage their asthma. Eleven patients (68.8%) reported being outdoors during the storm. Eleven patients were diagnosed with fatal asthma.

Conclusion: The study is the first to report on a thunderstorm-associated asthma epidemic in Kuwait and emphasizes the potential dangers associated with this entity.

Keywords: Fatality; Kuwait; near fatality; thunderstorm asthma.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of patients presented to Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital on December 01, 2016 for near fatal asthma. The thunderstorm occurred on December 01, 2016 at 13:00 h
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of patients with fatal thunderstorm asthma on December 01, 2016. The thunderstorm occurred on December 01, 2016 at 13:00 h
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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