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

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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Assessment of disease control in patients with asthma

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina45120121 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 45 (12) ◽

pp. 943 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Guoda Pilkauskaitė ◽

Kęstutis Malakauskas ◽

Raimundas Sakalauskas

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Asthma Control ◽

Control Level ◽

Asthma Management ◽

Control Test ◽

Uncontrolled Asthma ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Inhaled Steroids ◽

Asthma Patients ◽

Β2 Agonists

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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Is there an association between the value of forced expiratory volume in the 1st second, the Asthma Control Test and a Control Framework by Global Initiative for asthma in asthmatic children and adolescents treated with inhaled corticosteroids?

Journal of Human Growth and Development ◽

10.7322/jhgd.v29.9530 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 346-353

Author(s):

Karla Delevedove Taglia-Ferre ◽

Sandra Lisboa ◽

Luanda Dias da S. Salviano ◽

Ana Carolina Carioca da Costa ◽

Shandra Lisboa Monteiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Asthma Control ◽

Control Method ◽

Inhaled Corticosteroids ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Asthmatic Children ◽

Global Initiative For Asthma ◽

Global Initiative

Objective: Evaluate the presence of association between the classification of the level of asthma control, using the method proposed by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), the Asthma Control Test (ACT)/Childhood-ACT and the forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1), in asthmatic children and adolescents treated with inhaled corticosteroids, followed up at the National Institute of Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health FernandesFigueira of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IFF / FIOCRUZ). Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a review of the medical records of all children between 7 and 17 years of age followed up at the Asthma Outpatient Clinic and referred to the Respiratory Insertion Test (PFR) sector between March 2013 and September 2014. In the same day were applied the C-ACT/ACT questionnaires, an asthma control method proposed by the GINA and the FEV1 value in a spirometrictest. Results: From the total number of records evaluated (72), 16 children were excluded because they did not meet the required criteria for performing spirometry. The sample studied (56 children) was predominantly male (58.9%) and median age was 12 (7-17) years. It was observed an association between FEV1 and GINA values ??(p <0.01). Conclusion: The results found in this study indicate that FEV1 measurement is a useful component among the instruments for assessing clinical control of asthma by GINA.

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Heart rate recovery in asthmastic children and adolescents after clinical field test

BMC Pulmonary Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12890-020-01355-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Élida Pereira Silva ◽

Bruno Alvarenga Soares ◽

Mariana M. Reimberg ◽

Raphael Ritti-Dias ◽

Karina Silva Nascimento ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Asthma Control ◽

Functional Capacity ◽

Heart Rate Recovery ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Control Group ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Asthmatic Children

Abstract Background Inflammation caused by chronic lung disease in childhood may lead to delayed heart rate recovery (HRR) however, there is lack of evidence on HRR in this population. The aim was to assess HRR after functional capacity testing in asthmatic children and adolescents and to compare with severity and disease control. Method This was a study secondary to a randomized control trial. The modified shuttle test (MST) was performed to assess functional capacity and HRR. This is an externally cadenced test in which the distance walked is the outcome. HRR was assessed after MST and was defined as HR at exercise peak minus HR in the second minute after the end of exercise. Asthma control was assessed by the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Data normality was tested by Shapiro Wilk and the comparison between groups was made by Student’s t test or Mann Whitney test for numerical variables, and by Chi-square test for categorical variables. Statistical significance was considered when p < 0.05. SPSS version 20 was used in the analyzes. Results The sample included 77 patients diagnosed with asthma (asthma group - AG) who were regularly treated for asthma. Control group (CG) consisted of 44 volunteers considered healthy, matched in age and gender to AG. The median age of CG was 12 (10–14) years and in AG 11 (9–13 years) being classified as mild to moderate asthmatic, and 57% of the sample had controlled asthma by ACT. Distance walked in the CG was 952 ± 286 m and AG 799 ± 313 m, p = 0.001. HRR was more efficient in CG (79 ± 15 bpm) compared to AG (69 ± 12 bpm), p = 0.001. The mild (69 ± 12 beats) and severe (72 ± 15 beats) AG presented worse HRR compared to control group (79 ± 15 bpm), p < 0.05. Conclusions Asthmatic children and adolescents have delayed HRR after modified Shuttle test compared to their peers, suggesting that asthma leads to autonomic nervous system imbalance. Trial registration: Registered in Clinical Trials under number NCT02383069 and approved by the Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE Research Ethics Committee, protocol number 738192/2014.

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Evaluation of association between airway hyperresponsiveness, asthma control test, and asthma therapy assessment questionnaire in asthmatic children

Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine ◽

10.1186/2049-6958-8-48 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Daniele Rapino ◽

Marina Attanasi ◽

Nicola P Consilvio ◽

Alessandra Scaparrotta ◽

Anna Cingolani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Asthma Control ◽

Airway Hyperresponsiveness ◽

Asthma Therapy ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Therapy Assessment ◽

Asthmatic Children ◽

Assessment Questionnaire

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ASSESSING THE BENEFITS THAT COMMUNITY PHARMACIES CAN HAVE ON CHILDHOOD ASTHMA OUTCOMES

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2016-311535.52 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 101 (9) ◽

pp. e2.48-e2 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrew Lilley

Keyword(s):

Community Pharmacy ◽

Asthma Control ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Financial Incentive ◽

Symptom Control ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Inhaler Technique ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Asthmatic Children

IntroductionThe local Clinical Commissioning Group has funded an innovative one-year pilot project to assess the value of providing specialist paediatric pharmacist and physiotherapist support direct to families and health care professionals (GP's, community pharmacists, practice nurses etc.) regarding asthma in the primary care setting. Community pharmacies are the one service that asthmatic children come in contact with in order to pick up their medications it was decided to encourage staff to provide interventions at the point of collection.Methods22 large chain, small chain and independent community pharmacy branches were included in the pilot (out of 152 within CCG area) with a total of 31 pharmacists and 67 assistants trained to provide the service. The plan was to provide ‘back to basics’ leaflets on collection of prescription to help improve education on the medications being used; provide inhaler technique counselling on the collection of all prescriptions for children; encourage pharmacist's to perform medicines use reviews and the new medicines service in asthmatic children of high school age (for which they could collect the standard NHS fee). In order to assess the benefits of this, the pharmacist or assistant would first perform the standard asthma control test, marked out of 25 with the parent/patient completing an online version one month later to assess any improvement in symptom management. In order to trace the number of MURs, NMS, inhaler counselling sessions and leaflets given out a tally chart was completed each month by the branches involved.ResultsUnfortunately of the 22 branches that signed up to the pilot only 15 returned tally charts to the team. Over a six month period 23 MUR's, 3 NMS and 32 inhaler technique sessions were performed with 67 leaflets distributed. Of a possible 55 asthma control tests (MURs and inhaler technique counselling sessions) only 23 patients completed the four week post intervention online form. Of those completed the average asthma control test score increased by 7 points (30% increase). In particular feedback from the pharmacists involved was that the inhaler counselling sessions were of particular benefit to parents/patients.Feedback from the pharmacy teams in general was positive with many stating it was good to be more involved in the care of children's conditions; however many stated in order for the service to roll out to a wider audience the scheme would have to provide a financial incentive for the large chains to take part.ConclusionsIt is clear that interventions performed by the community pharmacy teams can help improve symptom control in asthmatic children. In particular ensuring patients are using their medications correctly appears to be key to symptom control. Encouraging pharmacists to provide child friendly MURs should be investigated further to prove the benefit of this service further. It should be noted that ensuring patients are using their medications correctly is already part of the essential service contract for pharmacies.

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Childhood Asthma Control Test in asthmatic children with dysfunctional breathing

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.jaci.2007.06.049 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 121 (1) ◽

pp. 266-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Diego G. Peroni ◽

Giorgio L. Piacentini ◽

Alessandro Bodini ◽

Attilio L. Boner

Keyword(s):

Asthma Control ◽

Childhood Asthma ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Asthmatic Children ◽

Dysfunctional Breathing

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Barriers and determinants of asthma control in children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053100 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e053100

Author(s):

Reratilwe Ephenia Mphahlele ◽

Omolemo Kitchin ◽

R Masekela

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Asthma Control ◽

Inhaled Corticosteroids ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Diagnosis ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Asthma Control Questionnaire ◽

African Children

ObjectiveTo identify reasons for poor asthma control in African children and adolescents.DesignSystematic reviewData sourcesPubMed, Scopus, CINHAL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were systematically searched up to 31 May 2020. Hand searching was done on Sabinet, African Journal online and Google Scholar.Eligibility criteriaStudies identifying barriers to asthma control, where asthma control was assessed by the validated Asthma Control Test/Child Asthma Control Test and/or Asthma Control Questionnaire were included.Data extraction and synthesisTwo reviewers independently selected studies for inclusion with disagreements resolved by a research team discussion, including a third reviewer. Data were extracted using the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care data collection form. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. Identified barriers were reported in a thematic narrative synthesis.Primary outcomesPoorly controlled asthma and associated factors.ResultsFrom 914 records, three studies conducted between 2014 and 2019 in Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa met the inclusion criteria. A total of 883 children aged 4–19 years were analysed. Older age, concurrent allergy and city-dwelling significantly impacted asthma control. Few children with asthma symptoms in the community had ever used inhaled corticosteroids (6.7%) and identified reasons included lack of asthma diagnosis (38.8%) and no prescribed treatment (47.6%).ConclusionAsthma control in African children is impacted by age, allergy, urbanisation and lack of access to asthma diagnosis and treatment. More studies focusing on identifying barriers to asthma control in Africa are needed.PROSPERORegistration no: CRD42020196755)

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