High ACT score is not sufficient to reduce the risk of asthma exacerbations in asthma with low lung function

• Published in: Respiratory medicine 2019-04, Vol.150, p.38-44
• Main Authors: Kwon, Jae-Woo, Jung, Heewon, Kim, Sae-Hoon, Chang, Yoon-Seok, Cho, You Sook, Nahm, Dong-Ho, Jang, An-Soo, Park, Jung-Won, Yoon, Ho Joo, Cho, Sang-Heon, Cho, Young-Joo, Choi, Byoung Whui, Moon, Hee-Bom, Kim, Tae-Bum
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACT assessment; Adult; Aged; Asthma; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - epidemiology; Asthma - physiopathology; Asthma control test; Cohort Studies; Emergency medical care; Enrollments; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Forced expiratory volume; Forced Expiratory Volume - drug effects; Humans; Lungs; Male; Middle Aged; Patients; Predictive Value of Tests; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Respiratory function; Respiratory Function Tests - methods; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Risk reduction; Symptom Flare Up
• ISSN: 0954-6111; 1532-3064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2019.02.010

Low forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) is a risk factor for asthma exacerbations (AEs). We aimed to determine if asthma control could reduce the future risk of AEs in patients with low FEV1. This study was conducted to evaluate the future risks of AEs within six months according to Asthma Control Test™ (ACT) score and FEV1. A total of 565 patients with asthma were enrolled from the COREA cohort. The ACT score, lung function test, and number of AEs were assessed at baseline, three-month follow-up, and six-month follow-up with conventional asthma treatments by asthma specialists in real clinical settings. Female sex, low ACT score, low FEV1, low FVC, and AE history in the previous three months were related with increased AEs within six months. AEs during six-month follow-up occurred in 24% of patients with ACT