Assessment of Asthma Control Using Asthma Control Test (ACT) and it Relationship with Lung Function Parameters

International guidelines indicate that the main criterion of asthma management is asthma control level. The aim of this study was to assess asthma control and its relation with age, gender, and lung function. Material and methods. A total of 106 family physicians and 13 pulmonologists and allergists took part in this study. Each doctor had selected 10–15 asthma patients and had sent invitations to them by post. On the visit day, the patients themselves filled in the Asthma Control Test. The doctors interviewed the patients and filled in a special questionnaire. Pulmonologists and allergists also assessed lung function by performing spirometry. According to the results of the Asthma Control Test, the disease control level was indicated as “totally controlled” (25 points), “well controlled” (24–20 points), and “uncontrolled” (19 points or less). Results. A total of 876 asthma patients were examined. Uncontrolled asthma was diagnosed to 56.2% of the patients, 36.5% of patients had well controlled and 7.3% totally controlled asthma. There was no significant difference in asthma control level comparing men and women. A correlation between asthma control level and age was found revealing poorer asthma control in older patients. Ninety-five percent of patients were treated with inhaled steroids; most of them had used inhaled steroids in combination with long-acting β2 agonists. It was found that lung function correlated with clinical symptoms of asthma, the demand of shortacting β2 agonists, and asthma control level. Conclusion. The study showed that uncontrolled asthma was diagnosed to more than half of the patients, despite most of them used inhaled steroids. Asthma control was worsening with the age of patients with asthma and it correlated with lung function. We suggest that periodical assessment of asthma control should help to optimize asthma management.

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The Strategy for Predicting Future Exacerbation of Asthma Using a Combination of the Asthma Control Test and Lung Function Test

Journal of Asthma ◽

10.1080/02770900902972160 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 46 (7) ◽

pp. 677-682 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Ryuji Sato ◽

Katsuyuki Tomita ◽

Hiroyuki Sano ◽

Hideo Ichihashi ◽

Shigeyoshi Yamagata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Asthma Control ◽

Lung Function Test ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Function Test

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Relationship of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) with Lung Function, Levels of Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Control According to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)

Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition) ◽

10.1016/s1579-2129(10)70087-2 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 46 (7) ◽

pp. 370-377 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Francisco Javier Álvarez-Gutiérrez ◽

Juan Francisco Medina-Gallardo ◽

Pablo Pérez-Navarro ◽

Juan José Martín-Villasclaras ◽

Bernardo Martin Etchegoren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Lung Function ◽

Asthma Control ◽

Exhaled Nitric Oxide ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Global Initiative For Asthma ◽

Global Initiative ◽

And Control ◽

Relationship Of

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Effect of combination of Nigella sativa and Bee’s honey on lung function, respiratory muscle power, and asthma control in patients with persistent asthma

International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences ◽

10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20164556 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 236 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jehan E. Abdelrahman ◽

Aamir A. Magzoub ◽

Randa E. Ibrahim ◽

Mohamed A. Elnoor ◽

Omer A. Musa

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Asthma Control ◽

Respiratory Muscle ◽

Muscle Power ◽

Inhaled Corticosteroids ◽

Nigella Sativa ◽

Persistent Asthma ◽

Airflow Limitation ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Control Test

Background: Persistent asthma is a serious global medical problem, usually controlled by long term use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). However, ICS are expensive particularly in the developing countries and despite their use, a proportion of patients still suffer from uncontrolled symptoms and may progress into intractable airflow limitation. Nigella sativa and Bee’s honey are relatively cheap and safe natural products with anti- inflammatory and anti-allergic properties; they are used traditionally in treatment of so many diseases.Methods: In this study, we investigated the adjuvant effect of combination of Nigella Sativa and Bee’s honey on lung function, respiratory muscle power and asthma control in patients with persistent asthma. An oral dose of Nigella sativa (2 mg once daily), and bee’s honey (7.5 ml twice a day) were given to patients with uncontrolled persistent asthma (n=30, 14 females and 16 males with mean age of 43.91±5.8) for three months duration. Lung function tests (FEV1, FVC and PEFR) and respiratory muscle power indicators (MEP, MIP) were measured initially as baseline records and monthly for 3 months. The baseline score for asthma control test (ACT) was calculated for all patients and repeated after three months.Results: There was statistically significant improvement in lung function and respiratory muscle power. The need for asthma relieving β2 agonists was remarkably decreased and a significant improvement in asthma control test score in both asthma groups was observed.Conclusions: Combination of Nigella sativa and Bee's Honey as an adjuvant therapy with ICS decreases asthma severity grade and hence the need for both asthma controlling and relieving drugs and improves patient’s quality of life.

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The real-world “ControL’Asma” study: a nationwide taskforce on asthma control in children and adolescents

Allergologia et Immunopathologia ◽

10.15586/aei.v49i1.14 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 32-39

Author(s):

Maria Angela Tosca ◽

Gian Luigi Marseglia ◽

Giorgio Ciprandi ◽

ControL’Asma” Study Group

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Asthma Control ◽

Real World ◽

Asthma Management ◽

Bronchial Obstruction ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Study Objective ◽

Asthmatic Children

Background: Asthma control is the goal of asthma management. A nationwide study on this aspect was launched by the Italian Society of Paediatric Allergy and Immunology (ControL’Asma study). Objective: To define variables associated with different asthma control grades in a nationwide population of asthmatic children and adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional real-world study included 480 asthmatic children and adolescents (333 males, median age 11.2 years) consecutively enrolled in 10 third level pediatric allergy clinics. According to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) document, history, medication use, perception of asthma symptoms assessed by visual analog scale (VAS), clinical examination, lung function, childhood asthma control test (cACT)/asthma control test (ACT), and asthma control level were evaluated. Results: Considering GINA criteria, asthma was well controlled in 55% of patients, partly controlled in 32.4%, and uncontrolled in 12.6%. Regarding cACT/ACT, asthma was uncontrolled in 23.2%. Patients with uncontrolled asthma had the lowest lung function parameters and VAS scores, more frequent bronchial obstruction and reversibility, and used more oral and inhaled corticosteroids (CS). Conclusions: The ControL’Asma study, performed in a real-world setting, showed that asthma in Italian children and adolescents was usually more frequent in males. Asthmatic patients had an early onset and allergic phenotype with very frequent rhinitis comorbidity. Uncontrolled and partly controlled asthma affected about half of the subjects, and the assessment of asthma symptom perception by VAS could be a reliable tool in asthma management.

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