Which complication is commonly associated with asthma leading to cardiorespiratory arrest?

Hypoxaemia is a critical complication associated with asthma that can lead to cardiorespiratory arrest. In patients with asthma, the airways become constricted and inflamed, which significantly impairs the ability to ventilate effectively. This results in inadequate oxygenation of the blood, leading to hypoxaemia, or low blood oxygen levels.

If the hypoxaemia is severe and prolonged, it can cause systemic effects, including cardiovascular instability, confusion, and eventually, loss of consciousness. The lack of oxygen affects both respiratory and cardiac function, which can culminate in respiratory failure and, ultimately, cardiorespiratory arrest if not promptly managed.

Understanding this risk emphasizes the importance of timely intervention in an asthma exacerbation to prevent hypoxaemia and other life-threatening complications. Other options, while they may be relevant in different clinical contexts, do not directly encompass the immediate and critical threat posed by hypoxaemia in the setting of acute asthma.