Near-Fatal Asthma

Prior severe attacks
Nonadherence to therapy
Poor asthma self-management skills
High baseline peak-flow variability
Frequent b-agonist use
Inadequate use of inhaled corticosteroids
Age > 40 yr
Cigarette smoking
Prior barotrauma
Hospitalization despite chronic oral corticosteroid use
Psychiatric illness
Recreational drug and alcohol abuse
Diminished ability to sense and respond to airway obstruction
Female sex
Poor socioeconomic status