Factores de riesgo asociados al desarrollo de asma en niños menores de cinco años, en el Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo periodo 2022 - 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma in the pediatric population has a significant impact because it compromises development, increases hospitalizations, raises family expenses, and requires early actions based on predisposing, environmental, and clinical factors. Objective: To analyze the risk factors associated with the development of asthma in children under five years of age, at Teodoro Maldonado Hospital during the period 2022 - 2024. Methodology: A quantitative, retrospective, analytical study was carried out, review of medical records, calculation of frequencies and percentages, chi-square test, in Jamovi 2.6.44 software. Results: During the period, records increased from 116 cases in 2022 to 469 in 2024; the cumulative proportion of unspecified asthma reached 23.8%, while the severe acute form represented 15.7%; Acute respiratory failure accounted for 20.3% of all visits, and unspecified bronchopneumonia accounted for 7.2%. There was a male predominance over females with a ratio of 1.2/1. The age group was concentrated between 5 and 4 years of age, and most records were for pediatric emergencies. Regarding risk factors, exposure to animal hair was documented in 67.7% of children and a history of viral infections in 45.8%; malnutrition appeared in 17.5%, tobacco smoke in 9.9%, while premature birth was recorded in 5.1%. Contingency analysis revealed an association between diagnosis and sex (x² = 55.1; p < .001), with moderate strength according to Cramer's V 0.268, corroborating widely observed clinical differences by gender. Conclusion: The progressive increase, male predominance in preschool children, and association with household exposures and viral infections create a scenario that requires continuous monitoring by administrative and operational health personnel.