Asthma exacerbations among childbearing women in Australia
Synopsis
Asthma is the most common chronic condition among
women of childbearing age in Australia. Up to 45% of pregnant women with asthma
experience an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy. Asthma and exacerbations
are associated with adverse perinatal and infant health outcomes, such as
gestational diabetes, preterm birth and childhood asthma. The purpose of this
study is 1) to describe characteristics of pregnant women with asthma in
comparison to pregnant women without asthma, 2) to identify and describe
exacerbation patterns among pregnant women with asthma and, 3) to predict exacerbation
patterns based on characteristics.