Project description:BACKGROUND:The Asthma Control Test (ACT) has been used to assess asthma control in both clinical trials and clinical practice. However, the relationships between ACT score and other measures of asthma impact are not fully understood. Here, we evaluate how ACT scores relate to other clinical, patient-reported, or economic asthma outcomes. METHODS:A targeted literature search of online databases and conference abstracts was performed. Data were extracted from articles reporting ACT score alongside one or more of: Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) score; rescue medication use; exacerbations; lung function; health-/asthma-related quality of life (QoL); sleep quality; work and productivity; and healthcare resource use (HRU) and costs. RESULTS:A total of 1653 publications were identified, 74 of which were included in the final analysis. Of these, 69 studies found that improvement in ACT score was related to improvement in outcome(s), either as correlation or by association. The level of evidence for each relationship differed widely between outcomes: substantial evidence was identified for relationships between ACT score and ACQ score, lung function, and asthma-related QoL; moderate evidence was obtained for relationships between ACT score and rescue medication use, exacerbations, sleep quality, and work and productivity; limited evidence was identified for relationships between ACT score and general health-related QoL, HRU, and healthcare costs. CONCLUSIONS:Findings of this review suggest that the ACT is an appropriate measure for overall asthma impact and support its use in clinical trial settings. GlaxoSmithKline plc. study number HO-17-18170.
Project description:The childhood Asthma-Control Test (C-ACT) is validated for assessing asthma control in paediatric asthma. Among children aged 4-11 years, the C-ACT requires the simultaneous presence of both parent and child. There is an unmet need for a tool that can be used to assess asthma control in children when parents or caregivers are not present such as in the school setting. We assessed the psychometric properties and estimated the minimally important difference (MID) of the C-ACT and a modified version, comprising only the child responses (C-ACTc). Asthma patients aged 6-11 years (n=161) from a previously completed multicenter randomised trial were included. Demographic information, spirometry and questionnaire scores were obtained at baseline and during follow-up. Participants or their guardians kept a daily asthma diary. Internal consistency reliabilities of the C-ACT and C-ACTc were 0.76 and 0.67 (Cronbach's ?), respectively. Test-retest reliabilities of the C-ACT and C-ACTc were 0.72 and 0.66 (intra-class correlation), respectively. Significant correlations were noted between C-ACT scores and ACQ scores (Spearman's correlation r=-0.56, 95% CI (-0.66, -0.44), P<0.001). The strength of the correlation between C-ACTc scores and ACQ scores was weaker (Spearman's correlation r=-0.46, 95% CI (-0.58, -0.33), P<0.001). We estimated the MID for the C-ACT and C-ACTc to be 2 points and 1 point, respectively. Among asthma patients aged 6-11 years, the C-ACT had good psychometric properties. The psychometric properties of a shortened child-only version (C-ACTc), although acceptable, are not as strong.
Project description:The standard Arabic version of the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) has never been previously evaluated in Arab countries. We studied its correlation in Arabic speaking children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with both the GINA assessment of asthma control and the resulting changes in asthma management. The Arabic C-ACT was completed by the children or by their parents when needed. A GINA based level of asthma control score was assigned by their managing physician. The correlation between the different cut- scores of the C-ACT and GINA were studied. A total of 105 eligible children with asthma (aged between 4 and 11.8 years, 61% boys) were enrolled. The Arabic translated C-ACT had a high reliability (Cronbach alpha 81%) and validity (as it correlated well with the GINA level of control). We found that using it with the traditional cut-score of 19 overestimated the degree of asthma control. Instead, a calculated optimal cut-score of 20 estimated more accurately the level of asthma control as assessed both by the GINA assessment and also by changes in asthma management. The current Arabic version of the C-ACT has a good reliability and validity. By using a single optimal cut-point of 20, it can be used to assess both the level of asthma control and of treatment control. It does not, however, accurately define asthma control when using the originally proposed cut-score of 19. Physicians need to recognise that the C-ACT cut-points may vary in different populations. We suggest that cut-scores of translated versions need to be modified in different geographical settings.
Project description:BackgroundChildhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) is a well-validated questionnaire for asthma controls among 4-11 years old children. This study aims to examine if longitudinal C-ACT score changes could also reflect lung pathophysiologic changes.MethodsThirty-seven children (43% female) aged 5 to 10 years old with mild or moderate asthma were followed up for 6 weeks with bi-weekly assessments of C-ACT, airway mechanics, lung function and respiratory inflammation. Associations of longitudinal changes in C-ACT score with lung pathophysiologic indicators were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models.ResultsA two-point worsening of total C-ACT score (sum of child and caregiver-reported) was associated with significant decreases in forced expiratory volume during the 1st second (FEV1) by 1.7% (P=0.04) and forced vital capacity (FVC) by 1.6% (P=0.01) and increased total airway resistance [airway resistance at 5 Hz (R5)] by 3.8% (P=0.05). A two-point worsening in child-reported score was significantly associated with 3.1% and 2.5% reductions in FEV1 and FVC, respectively, and with increases in R5 by 6.5% and large airway resistance [airway resistance at 20 Hz (R20)] by 5.5%. In contrast, a two-point worsening of caregiver-reported score was associated with none of the concurrent lung pathophysiologic measurements. Worsening of total C-ACT score was significantly associated with increased respiratory inflammation [fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)] in a subset (n=23) of children without eosinophilic airway inflammation. C-ACT scores were associated with none of the small airway measures.ConclusionsIn children with mild or moderate asthma, longitudinal C-ACT score changes could reflect acute changes in large airway resistance and lung function. Measures of small airway physiology would provide valuable complementary information for asthma control. Asthma phenotype may affect whether C-ACT score could reflect respiratory inflammation.
Project description:BackgroundYKL-40 is also called chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1) protein and may be a marker for asthma. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether serum YKL-40 levels are stable or decreased in patients with asthma after appropriate treatment and to evaluate the correlation of YKL-40 levels with lung function and asthma control test (ACT) results.MethodsA total of 103 asthmatic patients (mean age 33.1?±?0.9 years) with diagnosed asthma were enrolled in our study. All patients underwent a detailed clinical examination and completed the ACT questionnaire, serum YKL-40 measurement, and spirometry before (visit 1) and 8 weeks after initiation of treatment (visit 2).ResultsAt the follow-up, the median serum YKL-40 level was significantly decreased compared to the levels at visit 1 (75.2 [55.8-86.8] ng/ml versus 54.5 [46.4-58.4] ng/ml, p?<?0.001). The serum YKL-40 level was negatively correlated with %FEV1 (r?=?-0.37, p?<?0.001) and ACT score (r?=?-0.26, p?=?0.007) at visit 1. The change in serum YKL-40 levels between the visits was significantly correlated with changes in FEV1 (r?=?-0.28, p?=?0.006) and ACT score (r?=?-0.22, p?=?0.037). Patients with elevated YKL-40 levels had significantly greater corticosteroid use than patients with lower levels.ConclusionsYKL-40 was reduced in the serum of asthmatic patients after appropriate treatment, and the levels correlated with improvements in %FEV1 and ACT. High levels of serum YKL-40 may be refractory to current asthma treatments.Trial registrationChiCTR-OCC-13003316.
Project description:BackgroundSuboptimal asthma control during pregnancy may affect perinatal outcomes. US guidelines recommend questionnaires to assess asthma control including the Asthma Control Test (ACT).ObjectiveTo validate telephone administration of a modified version of ACT during pregnancy.MethodsMotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies (2011-2013) enrolled 159 pregnant women with asthma. Participants were interviewed by telephone at intake, at approximately gestational weeks 20 and 32, and postpartum. The ACT was modified to address dyspnea specifically due to asthma; the modified version is the Pregnancy Asthma Control Test (p-ACT). Women answered the p-ACT and guideline-based asthma impairment questions and reported asthma course changes and exacerbations. Possible p-ACT scores ranged from 5 to 25; higher score indicated better control. Reliability, criterion validity, construct validity, prospective validity, and responsiveness were assessed.ResultsCronbach's alpha for internal consistency was similar across time points (0.84-0.90). The p-ACT score varied by impairment; for example, at intake, the mean score was 23.2 for well-controlled versus 13.7 for very poorly controlled asthma. The p-ACT score change between interviews differed by asthma course; for example, women reporting that their asthma was much better at week 20 than at intake had a mean score increase of 4.7; women reporting that their asthma was a little worse had a mean score decrease of 1.3. Lower p-ACT score was associated with previous exacerbations, whereas intake p-ACT score was not associated with future exacerbations during pregnancy.ConclusionsThe p-ACT demonstrated good internal consistency, varied in the expected direction by impairment level, and was responsive to changes in asthma course. Telephone administration of the p-ACT is reliable and valid for assessing asthma control during pregnancy.