A60-06 Assessing Management of Pediatric Acute Asthma Exacerbations in Puerto Rico: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract Acute asthma exacerbations occur across a wide spectrum of severity and acuity, and is one of the leading causes for Pediatric Emergency Department (ED) visits in Puerto Rico. With a prevalence of 17% vs 5.6% in non-Hispanic white children and almost 1/4 of pediatric emergency department visits owing to acute asthma exacerbations, there is a need for improved care. We suggested that the use of a standardized tool like the Pediatric Asthma Severity Score (PASS) would correlate with severity and outcome within our institution, and could provide a helpful tool for physicians to improve triage and prioritize care. A cross-sectional study of 209 pediatric patients who visited our institution from 2024 to 2025 for acute asthma exacerbations were included. PASS scores were assigned retrospectively using chart review and outcomes were evaluated based on assigned PASS scores. Out of 209 patients included, 36% had PASS scores of 1, while 64% had 1. Patients that had PASS scores 1 were 14.5 times more likely to be admitted (p 0.001), with 70% of them being admitted. Of patients who were admitted, 49% would land in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit vs 51% in the pediatric ward. No statistical difference in time to treatment between mild and severe PASS scores was identified. This novel study with Puerto Rican patients shows that higher PASS scores correlated with higher hospital admission rates, supporting its use to guide management and treatment. With the understanding of the population of patients we serve, we look to improve and standardize asthma management, facilitate the transition of care from the ED to the inpatient unit, improve discharge rates and reduce readmissions. This abstract is funded by: None