Examination of the cut-off values for a questionnaire used to evaluate asthma control in Japanese asthma patients

Background

The Japan Asthma Control Survey (JACS) questionnaire, developed as a tool for measuring asthma control levels in Japanese asthma patients, was previously tested for its reliability and validity. However, many of the patients enrolled in the original validation study had mild asthma; thus a re-evaluation including severe cases was required to calculate more reliable cut-off values.

哮喘控制问卷与哮喘生命质量问卷在哮喘患者中的应用价值研究

目的探讨哮喘控制问卷（ACQ）与哮喘生命质量问卷（AQLQ）在哮喘患者中的应用价值。方法选取中国医科大学附属第一医院呼吸内科就诊的哮喘患者132例,其中男性60例,女性72例,平均年龄（47．64-12．3）岁。所有患者填写ACQ、AQLQ问卷并完成肺功能测试。按FEV-％pred将患萏分为三组：1组FEVi％pred≥80％;2组60％≤FEV1％pred〈80％;3组FEV1％pred〈60％。采用Pearson相关分析ACQ分值、AQLQ分值与肺功能指标之间的相关性。结果3组患者的ACQ、AQLQ评分差异有统计学意义（F：32．27、4．65,P〈0．01）,且ACQ、AQI。Q评分能很好的反映肺功能的差异。ACQ评分与肺功能指标呈负相关,AQI。Q评分与肺功能指标呈正相关。结论哮喘患者的肺功能指标与ACQ评分、AQLQ评分有很好的相关性,能更准确的评价患者病情,ACQ与AQLQ在哮喘患者中有很好的应用价值。     

Impact of shared decision making on asthma quality of life and asthma control among children

Objective: Few studies have examined the effectiveness of shared decision making (SDM) in clinical practice. This study evaluated the impact of SDM on quality of life and symptom control in children with asthma. Methods: We conducted a prospective 3-year study in six community-based practices serving a low-income patient population. Practices received training on SDM using an evidence-based toolkit. Patients aged 2–17 with a diagnosis of asthma were identified from scheduling and billing data. At approximate 6-month intervals, patients completed a survey consisting of the Mini Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (range 1–7) and the control domain of the Pediatric Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire (range 0–7). We used propensity scores to match 46 children receiving SDM to 46 children receiving usual care with decision support. Included children had completed a baseline survey and at least one follow-up survey. Random coefficient models incorporated repeated measures to assess the effect of SDM on asthma quality of life and asthma control. Results: The sample was primarily of non-White patients (94.6%) with Medicaid insurance (92.4%). Receipt of SDM using an evidence-based toolkit was associated with higher asthma quality of life [mean difference 0.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4–1.4] and fewer asthma control problems (mean difference ?0.9; 95% CI ?1.6–?0.2) compared to usual care with decision support. Conclusions: Implementation of SDM within clinical practices using a standardized toolkit is associated with improved asthma quality of life and asthma control for low-income children with asthma when compared to usual care with decision support.     

哮喘控制测试在社区基层医院老年支气管哮喘患者中的应用价值

目的评估哮喘控制测试(asthma control test,ACT)在社区基层医院老年支气管哮喘（简称哮喘）患者中的应用价值。方法对我院128例老年哮喘患者随诊监测,在患者进行肺功能测试时进行ACT,同时由医师根据2009年我国《支气管哮喘防治指南》的评估标准,对患者的哮喘控制水平进行评估。根据评估结果评价ACT方法...     

哮喘控制测试在社区基层医院老年支气管哮喘患者中的应用价值

目的评估哮喘控制测试（asthma control test,ACT）在社区基层医院老年支气管哮喘（简称哮喘）患者中的应用价值。方法对我院128例老年哮喘患者随诊监测,在患者进行肺功能测试时进行ACT,同时由医师根据2009年我国《支气管哮喘防治指南》的评估标准,对患者的哮喘控制水平进行评估。根据评估结果评价ACT方法的有效性。结果老年哮喘患者全部能够完成ACT,128例患者在随诊研究期间同时进行ACT及医师哮喘控制情况评估共482例次。ACT得分与医师评估结果的相关系数为0.647,一致性检验Kappa值为0.354,P〈0.05;在第1秒用力呼气容积占预计值百分比、哮喘控制水平和治疗调整方案不同的患者之间ACT的得分差异有统计学意义。结论 ACT方法简单、经济、有效,可以用于我国基层医院的哮喘控制评估,同样适用对社区基层老年哮喘患者的哮喘控制水平监测。     

Effects of poor asthma control,insomnia, anxiety and depression on quality of life in young asthmatics

Objective: Asthma-related quality of life has previously been shown to be associated with asthma control. The aims of the present study were to further analyze this correlation, identify other variables with impact on asthma-related quality of life and investigate the covariance among these variables. Methods: Information was retrieved from a cohort of 369 patients, aged 12–35, with physician-diagnosed asthma requiring anti-inflammatory treatment for at least 3 months per year. Questionnaire data [including the mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (mAQLQ), asthma control test (ACT) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], quality of sleep, lung function data and blood samples were analyzed. Linear regression models with the mAQLQ score as the dependent scalar variable were calculated. Results: ACT was the single variable that had the highest explanatory value for the mAQLQ score (51.5%). High explanatory power was also observed for anxiety and depression (17.0%) and insomnia (14.1%). The population was divided into groups depending on the presence of anxiety and depression, uncontrolled asthma and insomnia. The group that reported none of these conditions had the highest mean mAQLQ score (6.3 units), whereas the group reporting all of these conditions had the lowest mAQLQ score (3.8 units). Conclusions: The ACT score was the single most important variable in predicting asthma-related quality of life. Combining the ACT score with the data on insomnia, anxiety and depression showed considerable additive effects of the conditions. Hence, we recommend the routine use of the ACT and careful attention to symptoms of insomnia, anxiety or depression in the clinical evaluation of asthma-related quality of life.     

Treatment of asthma in smokers: A questionnaire survey in Japanese clinical practice

Background

Cigarette smoking in patients with asthma leads to poor symptom control. As patients who are current smokers have been excluded from enrollment in many clinical trials on asthma, there are few reports on the treatment in current smokers with asthma. In this study, we aimed to assess how respiratory physicians manage asthma in current smokers in Japan.

Usefulness of a linear analog scale questionnaire to measure health-related quality of life in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVES: To examine the validity, discriminatory ability, and responsiveness of health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) questionnaires using a linear analog scale (Quality of Life (QOL) scale) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: Cross-sectional and longitudinal. SETTING: Outpatient. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred two elderly subjects with mild to severe COPD. MEASUREMENTS: Scores on the QOL scale, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) and various clinical parameters were recorded. The correlations between these QOL questionnaires and various clinical parameters were then examined. The responses of 31 elderly COPD patients to the QOL scale and the SGRQ before and 3 months after the completion of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program were compared longitudinally. RESULTS: On cross-sectional study, the QOL scale showed a significant correlation with the total score and three components of the SGRQ. The QOL scale correlated significantly with all components of the SF-36, but the total SGRQ score correlated with only six components of the SF-36, excluding vitality and the mental health index. Both the QOL scale and the total score of the SGRQ correlated significantly with the oxygen cost diagram (OCD), Morale scale, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) score. When subjects were divided into three groups according to disease severity (mild, moderate, severe) using American Thoracic Society guidelines, the total SGRQ score discriminated between the three groups. The QOL scale could not discriminate between mild and moderate or moderate and severe. On longitudinal study, 3 months after finishing the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program, the QOL scale, the SGRQ, 6MWD, and OCD all showed significant improvement. The difference in the QOL scale after the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program showed a significant correlation with changes in the SGRQ total score and the OCD but not with the 6MWD. CONCLUSION: The QOL scale is similar to more-complex questionnaires such as the SGRQ in terms of validity and responsiveness for evaluating disease-specific HRQoL in elderly COPD patients. In clinical settings, the QOL scale, as a simple questionnaire, may be useful for disease-specific HRQoL assessments in elderly COPD patients.     

Obesity-associated severe asthma in an adult Japanese population

Background

Severe asthma is increasingly being recognized as an important public health issue. Obesity has been identified as a risk factor for poor asthma control and for worsening of asthma severity. However, most studies investigating obese patients with asthma have been performed in Western countries. Reports on the characteristics of obese Japanese individuals with severe asthma are lacking. Herein, we investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with obesity-associated severe asthma in a Japanese population and the association between obesity and poor asthma control.

The influence of hospitalizations due to exacerbations or spontaneous pneumothoraxes on the quality of life,mental function and symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with COPD or asthma

Background: Patients with bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently have a low quality of life (QoL) in addition to depression symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare the QoL, depression symptoms, mental function and anxiety in patients with asthma or COPD exacerbations or spontaneous pneumothoraxes (SP) to patients with stable disease. Materials and methods: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of severe (III degree) bronchial asthma or COPD were included in this study. Prospective observations of asthma or COPD exacerbations or SP were performed over a three-year period. QoL was assessed using St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). In addition, the AQ20 questionnaire (AQ20), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were administered. Results: A total of 233 patients (112 with asthma and 121 with COPD; mean age 57.9?±?11.9 years) were included in the study. Patients with COPD or asthma had a low QoL as estimated by the SGRQ (mean?±?SD: 27.5?±?12.9 and 25.1?±?10.2 for asthma and COPD, respectively). Asthma exacerbations, COPD exacerbations or SP requiring hospitalization were associated with lower SGRQ scores over the three-year observation period (41.5?±?11.7, 57.9?±?14.3 and 65.3?±?11.4, respectively). The mean MMSE score significantly decreased after an asthma exacerbation compared to the baseline (29.9?±?2.1 versus 27.2?±?3.1; p?p?p?Conclusion: Low QoL and mental impairment were observed in patients with asthma and COPD. In addition, the QoL significantly decreased following hospitalizations due to exacerbations or SP.     

Efficacy and safety of mepolizumab in Japanese patients with severe eosinophilic asthma

Background

The MENSA trial assessed the efficacy and safety of mepolizumab in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. This report describes the efficacy and safety of mepolizumab in Japanese patients from MENSA.

Comparing the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with uncontrolled and partially controlled asthma

Objective: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an important therapeutic approach in asthmatic patients. Lack of asthma control is associated with high morbidity, poor health outcomes, and decrease in quality of life (QOL). However, there is no clear information about the effectiveness of PR in patients with differing levels of asthma control. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of PR in patients with uncontrolled and partially controlled asthma. Methods: Before undergoing an 8-week outpatient PR program, patients were classified according to the asthma control test (ACT) as having partially controlled asthma or uncontrolled asthma. Changes in asthma control, exercise capacity, dyspnea perception, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gas analysis, QOL, and psychological symptoms before and after PR were compared between groups. Results: A total of 49 patients, 21 of whom were in partially controlled and the rest 28 were in uncontrolled asthma, participated in the study. After PR, asthma control perceived dyspnea, exercise capacity, QOL, anxiety, and depression significantly improved in both groups (p < 0.05). When the two groups were compared in terms of the benefits of PR, the improvement in ACT score was significantly greater in patients with uncontrolled asthma than in partially controlled asthma (p < 0.001), whereas the improvements in other parameters were similar between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Improvement in asthma control is greater in patients with uncontrolled asthma than in patients with partially controlled asthma after PR. Therefore, patients with uncontrolled asthma, in particular, should be given opportunities to benefit from PR programs.     

Asthma control and quality of life in a real-life setting: a cross-sectional study of adult asthma patients in Japan (ACQUIRE-2)

Objective: The level of asthma control in adult asthma patients receiving treatment in clinical practice from allergy and/or respiratory specialists in Japan remains unclear. We conducted the ACQUIRE-2 study (NCT02640742) to evaluate level of asthma control, asthma symptoms, health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), and reliever medication use in this setting. Methods: This observational study was undertaken between December 2015 and June 2016 in 58 medical institutions across Japan. We enrolled outpatients aged ≥20?years diagnosed with asthma for ≥1?year who were being managed by specialists. Criteria to evaluate the level of asthma control were based on modified definitions of the Asthma Prevention and Management Guideline 2015, Japan (JGL 2015) and Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2012. Asthma symptoms, HR-QoL, and reliever medication use were also evaluated. Results: Of 1250 enrolled patients, 1175 were analyzed, 62.9% of whom were women. Mean (± standard deviation) age and duration of asthma were 59.7?±?14.5?years and 16.9?±?14.0?years, respectively. Using JGL 2015-based criteria, 24.4%, 69.2%, and 6.5% of patients had well-controlled, insufficiently-controlled, and poorly-controlled asthma, respectively. Using GINA-based criteria, 35.1%, 49.8%, and 15.1% of patients had controlled, partly controlled, and uncontrolled asthma, respectively. Daytime and nighttime asthma symptoms were experienced by 51.5% and 44.9% of patients, respectively. The mean MiniAQLQ score was 5.8?±?1.0 (7-point scale). Conclusions: Asthma was not well-controlled in the majority of patients in this study. To achieve better asthma control, improvements in symptom monitoring and management may be required.     

Development of a Computerized Adaptive Test to Assess Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults with Asthma

Objective. The purpose of this research was to calibrate an item bank for a computerized adaptive test (CAT) of asthma impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), test CAT versions of varying lengths, conduct preliminary validity testing, and evaluate item bank readability. Methods. Asthma Impact Survey (AIS) bank items that passed focus group, cognitive testing, and clinical and psychometric reviews were administered to adults with varied levels of asthma control. Adults self-reporting asthma (N = 1106) completed an Internet survey including 88 AIS items, the Asthma Control Test, and other HRQOL outcome measures. Data were analyzed using classical and modern psychometric methods, real-data CAT simulations, and known groups validity testing. Results. A bi-factor model with a general factor (asthma impact) and several group factors (cognitive function, fatigue, mental health, physical function, role function, sexual function, self-consciousness/stigma, sleep, and social function) was tested. Loadings on the general factor were above 0.5 and were substantially larger than group factor loadings, and fit statistics were acceptable. Item functioning for most items and fit to the model was acceptable. CAT simulations demonstrated several options for administration and stopping rules. AIS distinguished between respondents with differing levels of asthma control. Conclusions. The new 50-item AIS item bank demonstrated favorable psychometric characteristics, preliminary evidence of validity, and accessibility at moderate reading levels. Developing item banks for CAT can improve the precise, efficient, and comprehensive monitoring of asthma outcomes and may facilitate patient-centered care.     

Development of an EORTC questionnaire module to be used in health-related quality-of-life assessment for patients with multiple myeloma. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Study Group on Quality of Life

A multiple myeloma-specific quality-of-life questionnaire module has been designed in collaboration with the EORTC Quality-of-Life Study Group to be used in clinical trials with the EORTC QLQ-C30, a general cancer questionnaire. Strict methodology was employed to ensure thorough and appropriate development of the module. An extensive literature review was performed to identify health-related quality-of-life issues relevant to patients with multiple myeloma. Semi-structured interviews were then carried out in several European countries with health-care providers experienced in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, and with a group of patients with multiple myeloma, to identify the issues which were most important to patients. A questionnaire was devised from the list of issues, using a 1-week time-frame and response categories consistent with the EORTC QLQ-C30. The provisional questionnaire and the EORTC QLQ-C30 were administered to patients with multiple myeloma in each participating country with further semi-structured interviews to refine the content and design of the questionnaire. A review of the results obtained in each stage of development resulted in a 24-item myeloma-specific module, the EORTC QLQ-MY24, which assesses disease-specific symptoms and their impact on everyday life, treatment side-effects, social support, and future perspective. The module is currently undergoing further international field-testing to assess its psychometric properties.     

Moderating effect of gender on the prospective relation of physical activity with psychosocial outcomes and asthma control in adolescents: a longitudinal study

Objective: Adolescents with asthma experience more psychosocial and physiological problems compared to their healthy peers. Physical activity (PA) might decrease these problems. This study was the first observational longitudinal study to examine whether habitual PA could predict changes in psychosocial outcomes (i.e. symptoms of anxiety and depression, quality of life [QOL] and stress) and asthma control over time in adolescents with asthma and whether gender moderated these relationships. Methods: Adolescents with asthma (N?=?253; aged 10–14 years at baseline) were visited at home in the spring/summer of 2012 and 2013. They completed questionnaires assessing their habitual PA, symptoms of anxiety and depression, QOL, perceived stress and asthma control. Path analyses using Mplus were conducted to examine longitudinal relationships among habitual PA, psychosocial outcomes and asthma control (controlled for body mass index, age and gender). Using multi-group analyses, we examined whether gender moderated these relationships. Results: Path analyses in the total group showed that habitual PA did not predict changes in psychosocial outcomes or asthma control over time. Multi-group analyses showed that gender moderated the relation of habitual PA with anxiety and depression. Habitual PA only significantly predicted a decrease in anxiety and depression over time for girls but not for boys. Conclusions: Increasing habitual PA in girls with asthma might decrease their symptoms of anxiety and depression.     

Patient-reported and physician-reported depressive conditions in relation to asthma severity and control

BACKGROUND: Depressive conditions in asthma patients have been described mostly from patient reports and less often from physician reports. While patient reports can encompass multiple symptoms, physician assessments can attribute symptoms to a mental health etiology. Our objectives were to identify associations between patient- and physician-reported depressive conditions and asthma severity and control. METHODS: Patient-reported depressive symptoms were obtained using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) [possible score 0 to 30; higher score indicates more depressive symptoms]. Patients were categorized as having a physician-reported depressive disorder if they had the following: a diagnosis of depression, depressive symptoms described in medical charts, or were prescribed antidepressants at doses used to treat depression. Patients also completed the Severity of Asthma Scale (SOA) [possible score 0 to 28; higher score indicates more severe] and the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) [possible score 0 to 6; higher score indicates worse control]. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-seven patients were included in this analysis (mean age, 42 years; 75% women). Mean SOA and ACQ (+/- SD) scores were 5.9 +/- 4.2 and 1.4 +/- 1.2, respectively; and mean GDS score was 6.3 +/- 6.4. After adjusting for age, sex, race, Latino ethnicity, education, medication adherence, body mass index, and smoking status, patient-reported depressive symptoms were associated with asthma severity (p = 0.007) and with asthma control (p = 0.0007). In contrast, physician-reported depressive disorders were associated with asthma severity (p = 0.04) but not with asthma control (p = 0.22) after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Physician- and patient-reported depressive conditions were associated with asthma severity. In contrast, patient-reported depressive symptoms were more closely associated with asthma control than were physician-reported depressive disorders. Identifying associations between depressive conditions and asthma severity and control is necessary to concurrently treat these conditions in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00195117.