The acuity of paediatric asthma in the emergency department worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta…

Cohort studyAllergy, asthma, and clinical immunology : official journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology· Jul 2026

The acuity of paediatric asthma in the emergency department worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Canada.

Behzad Heibati, Amanpreet Gill, Jalal Moolji, Adil Adatia

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Pediatric Critical & Emergency CareCohort studyQ2IF 2.6

Emergency medical services visits for pediatric asthma rose up to 2.26-fold by 2024 versus pre-pandemic.

The acuity of paediatric asthma in the emergency department worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Canada.

Behzad Heibati … Adil Adatia

Allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology · Jul 2026

Background

Asthma affects about 13% of Canadian children and is a common reason for emergency department (emergency department) visits or hospitalization.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate how paediatric emergency department visits were influenced by the pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study examining asthma emergency department visits, admission rates, and presentation acuity for children 2 to 17-years-old from 2011 to 2024.

2.26×

Results

2.26×

Emergency medical services calls for pediatric asthma climbed sharply above pre-pandemic levels

More results

The mean daily incidence of emergency department visits remained at 5-10 per million per year for ages 2-12 years, and under 5 per million per year for ages 13-17 years, except for a transient interruption in the early pandemic, in 2020.

More results

Following this interruption, the pre-existing trend to worsening acuity and greater rates of hospitalization accelerated in the late pandemic.

The acuity and hospitalization rates have remained elevated in the post-pandemic years.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Pre-existing trends in paediatric asthma exacerbations worsened in the years following 2020.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Although the incidence of emergency department visits did not substantially increase, children were more likely to have severe exacerbations and require hospitalization in the late pandemic and post-pandemic years relative to pre-pandemic years.

The acuity of paediatric asthma in the emergency department worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Canada.

The acuity of paediatric asthma in the emergency department worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Canada.

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