Heart Rate Measurement After Salbutamol Administration

Timing and Assessment

Clinical score and oxygen saturation should be assessed at 30 minutes post-treatment, as this represents the optimal time point for evaluating therapeutic response in outpatient settings, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 1
For objective lung function assessment, measurements at 30 and 60 minutes are both appropriate, with 60 minutes showing sustained bronchodilation despite resolution of some clinical score improvements, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1
In acute severe asthma, heart rate monitoring should occur continuously or at frequent intervals, along with respiratory rate and other severity markers, as suggested by the British Thoracic Society 2, 3
Heart rate ≥110/min is a defining feature of severe asthma that requires ongoing monitoring, according to the British Thoracic Society 2, 3

In children treated for acute asthma, heart rate should be assessed at 90 minutes post-salbutamol, when studies show optimal correlation with clinical response, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1
Heart rate ≥140/min in children indicates severe disease requiring more intensive monitoring, as suggested by the British Thoracic Society 3

Continuous monitoring is warranted in elderly patients or those with cardiac disease, as β-agonists may rarely precipitate angina, according to the British Thoracic Society 3
Avoid measuring only at 60 minutes in outpatient settings, as this may miss the peak clinical score improvement seen at 30 minutes, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1