Asthma Control Test in a School Based Asthma Screening

Abstract

RationaleExamine usefulness of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) compared to pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and SaO2 in school based asthma screenings.MethodsPart of a nationwide asthma screening, 600 packets were sent home with children (K-8) attending 3 private schools. Packets contained introductory letters, registration, demographic information, release forms, age-specific child, and parent questionnaires including ACT/C-ACT. Spirometry, peak flow, resting SaO2, and height were obtained. Analysis compared functional parameters (PFTs and SaO2) versus ACT/C-ACT in students with known asthma.ResultsOf 114 screened (ages 4-13, mean 8.6 ± 2.2, 1.1 M/F), 25 (22%) had asthma history, with 15 (60%) completing the ACT/C-ACT. The mean ACT/C-ACT score was 21.3 ± 4.7, range 11-25. Mean SaO2 was 98.8% ± 0.9 and mean PFTs (precent of predicted) were PEF 98.7% ± 20.8, FVC 100.1% ± 19.7, FEV1 97.8% ± 17.3, FEV1/FVC 87.1% ± 8.2, FEF25-75 92.2% ± 21.7, and FET100% 2.6 seconds ± 1.0. Of 3 students with ACT/C-ACT scores ≤ 19 (uncontrolled asthma), 0 had FEV1 ≤ 80% predicted and 2 (66.7%) had 1 or more other abnormal PFTs. Of 12 students with ACT/C-ACT scores > 19 (controlled asthma), 3 (25%) had FEV1 ≤ 80% predicted and a total of 8 (66.7%) had 1 or more other abnormal PFTs. Analysis showed no significant correlations (all |r| < 0.45) between ACT/C-ACT scores and individual functional parameters.ConclusionsUsing ACT/C-ACT in school based asthma screenings may be helpful tools in assessing asthma control and do not necessarily correlate with functional parameters. RationaleExamine usefulness of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) compared to pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and SaO2 in school based asthma screenings. Examine usefulness of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) compared to pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and SaO2 in school based asthma screenings. MethodsPart of a nationwide asthma screening, 600 packets were sent home with children (K-8) attending 3 private schools. Packets contained introductory letters, registration, demographic information, release forms, age-specific child, and parent questionnaires including ACT/C-ACT. Spirometry, peak flow, resting SaO2, and height were obtained. Analysis compared functional parameters (PFTs and SaO2) versus ACT/C-ACT in students with known asthma. Part of a nationwide asthma screening, 600 packets were sent home with children (K-8) attending 3 private schools. Packets contained introductory letters, registration, demographic information, release forms, age-specific child, and parent questionnaires including ACT/C-ACT. Spirometry, peak flow, resting SaO2, and height were obtained. Analysis compared functional parameters (PFTs and SaO2) versus ACT/C-ACT in students with known asthma. ResultsOf 114 screened (ages 4-13, mean 8.6 ± 2.2, 1.1 M/F), 25 (22%) had asthma history, with 15 (60%) completing the ACT/C-ACT. The mean ACT/C-ACT score was 21.3 ± 4.7, range 11-25. Mean SaO2 was 98.8% ± 0.9 and mean PFTs (precent of predicted) were PEF 98.7% ± 20.8, FVC 100.1% ± 19.7, FEV1 97.8% ± 17.3, FEV1/FVC 87.1% ± 8.2, FEF25-75 92.2% ± 21.7, and FET100% 2.6 seconds ± 1.0. Of 3 students with ACT/C-ACT scores ≤ 19 (uncontrolled asthma), 0 had FEV1 ≤ 80% predicted and 2 (66.7%) had 1 or more other abnormal PFTs. Of 12 students with ACT/C-ACT scores > 19 (controlled asthma), 3 (25%) had FEV1 ≤ 80% predicted and a total of 8 (66.7%) had 1 or more other abnormal PFTs. Analysis showed no significant correlations (all |r| < 0.45) between ACT/C-ACT scores and individual functional parameters. Of 114 screened (ages 4-13, mean 8.6 ± 2.2, 1.1 M/F), 25 (22%) had asthma history, with 15 (60%) completing the ACT/C-ACT. The mean ACT/C-ACT score was 21.3 ± 4.7, range 11-25. Mean SaO2 was 98.8% ± 0.9 and mean PFTs (precent of predicted) were PEF 98.7% ± 20.8, FVC 100.1% ± 19.7, FEV1 97.8% ± 17.3, FEV1/FVC 87.1% ± 8.2, FEF25-75 92.2% ± 21.7, and FET100% 2.6 seconds ± 1.0. Of 3 students with ACT/C-ACT scores ≤ 19 (uncontrolled asthma), 0 had FEV1 ≤ 80% predicted and 2 (66.7%) had 1 or more other abnormal PFTs. Of 12 students with ACT/C-ACT scores > 19 (controlled asthma), 3 (25%) had FEV1 ≤ 80% predicted and a total of 8 (66.7%) had 1 or more other abnormal PFTs. Analysis showed no significant correlations (all |r| < 0.45) between ACT/C-ACT scores and individual functional parameters. ConclusionsUsing ACT/C-ACT in school based asthma screenings may be helpful tools in assessing asthma control and do not necessarily correlate with functional parameters. Using ACT/C-ACT in school based asthma screenings may be helpful tools in assessing asthma control and do not necessarily correlate with functional parameters.