Comparison of Asthma-Related Functional Consequences and Health Care Utilization among Children with and without Upper Respiratory Infection-Triggered Wheezing

Objective. We compared differences in functional consequences and health care utilization in middle school-age children, based on whether they reported wheezing triggered by upper respiratory infections (URI-TW). Methods. Information on asthma symptoms, URI-TW, and functional consequence and health care use outcomes was collected from approximately 128,000 children; symptomatic participants were included in the analysis. Adjusted prevalence odds ratios were used to make comparisons. Results. URI-TW was significantly associated with most outcomes examined, with stronger associations at increasing levels of outcomes for sleep disturbances, school absences, activity limitations, physician visits, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, inhaler use, and tablets/pills to help breathing. Conclusion. Children who report URI-TW during their middle school years experience substantial morbidity and high health care utilization compared with symptomatic children without URI-TW.