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Medical Disability Advisor  >  Asthma  >  Complications

Asthma

Related Terms

  • Allergic Asthma
  • Asthmatic Bronchitis
  • Bronchial Asthma
  • Catarrhal Asthma
  • Chronic Desquamating Eosinophilic Bronchitis
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA)
  • Exercise Induced Bronchonspasm (EIB)
  • Hyper-reactive Airway Disease
  • Reactive Airway Disease (RAD)

Differential Diagnoses

Specialists

  • Allergist / Immunologist
  • Critical Care Internist
  • Emergency Medicine Physician
  • Pulmonologist

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Factors Influencing Duration

The factors most likely to influence disability are the severity of the attack, the development of complications, whether episodes are acute or part of a chronic condition, any underlying chronic medical conditions, the individual's type of work, and most importantly, the individual’s compliance with prescribed treatment.

Overall, the chronic, well-managed, mild to moderately severe asthmatic may experience very few days lost from work due to the disease. Smokers and individuals regularly exposed to known allergens are at greater risk for severe asthma with complications and increased duration.

Duration Trends from Reference Data

DURATION TRENDS
 ICD-9-CM: 493, 493.0, 493.00, 493.1, 493.2, 493.9  
CasesMeanMinMaxNo Lost TimeOver 6 Months
49872604170.6%0%
 
  
 
Percentile:5th25thMedian75th95th
Days:511173378
 
  
 

Differences may exist between the duration tables and the reference graphs. Duration tables provide expected recovery periods based on the type of work performed by the individual. The reference graphs reflect the actual experience of many individuals across the spectrum of physical conditions, in a variety of industries, and with varying levels of case management. Selected graphs combine multiple codes based on similar means and medians.

Medical Codes

ICD-9-CM:
493 - Asthma
493.0 - Asthma, Extrinsic
493.00 - Asthma, Extrinsic, without Mention of Status Asthmaticus
493.1 - Asthma, Intrinsic
493.2 - Asthma, Chronic Obstructive
493.9 - Asthma, Unspecified
493.91 - Asthma, Unspecified, with Status Asthmaticus

Complications

Free air or gas within the pleural cavity (pneumothorax) or the abnormal presence of air in tissues that separate parts of the lung cavity (pneumomediastinum) can develop during severe asthma attacks, especially if the individual requires mechanical ventilation. A severe asthma attack that does not respond to treatment can lead to prolonged contraction (bronchospasm) of smooth muscles (status asthmaticus) and may be followed by respiratory failure and death. Individuals who have chronic pulmonary disease in addition to asthma will often have more severe and debilitating episodes of asthma.

Long-term oral steroid use by asthmatics can lead to blood chemistry disturbances, cataracts, osteoporosis, immunosuppression, and adrenal suppression. Over-treatment of asthma with bronchodilators may precipitate cardiac arrhythmia.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor






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