Assessment of asthma control and associated risk factors: findings from the Klang Asthma Cohort Study in Malaysia

Abstract

<b>Aim:</b> Asthma control is unsatisfactory despite availability of effective treatment. This study aimed to examine patients’ asthma control and the associated risk factors. <b>Methods:</b> 1, 280 patients; 85% adults and 15% children with physician-diagnosed asthma or given asthma treatment in the preceding year were recruited. Data were collected using face-to-face questionnaires and patients’ clinic records. Assessment of asthma control was based GINA 2017. <b>Results:</b> In adults, only 34% had good asthma control, 37% and 29% had partly and uncontrolled asthma. In children, 54% had good control, 32% had partly controlled and 14% had uncontrolled asthma. Factors associated with poorly controlled asthma in adults were:use of short-acting bronchodilator(SABA)in the past month(OR4.5; 95%CI 3.3-6.1);self-reported exposure to haze(OR1.5; 95%CI 1.1-1.9);extreme emotion as trigger(OR1.6; 95%CI 1.1-2.5); air-conditioning as trigger(OR1.6;95% CI 1.2-2.2),doing sports(OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.8-3.3) and male(OR 1.4;95% CI 1.1-1.9). Conversely, the odds of a complementary medicine (CAM) user having good control was 1.62 (95%CI 1.1-2.3) compared to non-user. In children, the factors associated with poor control were: use of SABA in the past month (OR 12.3;95% CI 5.5-27.8) and attending secondary level education (OR 2.9; 95%CI 1.2-6.6). <b>Conclusion:</b> Asthma control remains suboptimal. The use of SABA is still prevalent and a strong association for poor asthma control.