Table 1 Baseline characteristics of children treated with nasal high flow and with standard oxygen therapy for status asthmaticus

Age (years), median [IQR]

3.6 [1.6–5.6]

3.6 [2.2–6.7]

Male/female ratio

20/19

21/9

Weight (kg), median [IQR]

15 [11–24]

15 [13–23]

PIM2 at admission, median [IQR]

1.5 [1.15–3.3]

1 [0.3–1.37]

History of asthma or >2 bronchiolitis, n (%)

31 (80)

23 (77)

Previous admission for asthma, n (%)

19 (48)

11 (37)

 In PICU, n (%)

4 (10)

2 (6)

Long-term control medicine, n (%)

17 (44)

14 (47)

Clinical parameters at admission, median [IQR]

 Respiratory rate (/min)

35 [31–47]

35 [30–43]

 Heart rate (/min)

164 [154–185]

168 [153–180]

 SpO₂ (%)

97 [95–98]

98 [97–100]

 SpO₂/FiO₂

216 [175–303]

NA

Venous blood gas at admission, median [IQR]

 pH

7.35 [7.28–7.39]

7.36 [7.34–7.39]

 pCO₂ (kPa)

5.6 [4.7–7.7]

4.9 [4.4–5.6]

 Bicarbonates (mmol/L)

22 [20–24]

20 [20–23]

Acidosis (pH < 7.30), n (%)

10 (26%)

2 (7%)

Associated medication, n (%)

 Salbutamol—nebulized

39 (100%)

30 (100%)

 Corticosteroids—intravenous^a

31 (79%)

19 (63%)

 Salbutamol—intravenous

13 (33%)

5 (17%)

 Magnesium sulphate

23 (59%)

8 (27%)

PICU LOS (days), median [IQR]

3 [2.5–5]

1.5 [1, 2]