Limited agreement between current and long-term asthma control in children: the PACMAN cohort study

• Published in: Pediatric allergy and immunology 2011-12, Vol.22 (8), p.776-783
• Main Authors: Koster, Ellen S., Raaijmakers, Jan A. M., Vijverberg, Susanne J. H., Koenderman, Leo, Postma, Dirkje S., Koppelman, Gerard H., van der Ent, Cornelis K., Maitland-van der Zee, Anke-Hilse
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - administration & dosage; Agreements; Anti-Asthmatic Agents - administration & dosage; Asthma; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - epidemiology; Asthma - physiopathology; asthma control questionnaire; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; childhood; Children; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cohort Studies; Corticoids; Disease management; Disease Progression; Drug Administration Schedule; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; General aspects; Growth hormone; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Inflammation; Inventories; long-term asthma control; Male; Medical sciences; Netherlands - epidemiology; Pharmacogenetics; Pneumology; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; seasonal variation; Seasons; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0905-6157; 1399-3038
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2011.01188.x

To cite this article: Koster ES, Raaijmakers JAM, Vijverberg SJH, Koenderman L, Postma DS, Koppelman GH, van der Ent CK, Maitland‐van der Zee A‐H. Limited agreement between current and long‐term asthma control in children: the PACMAN cohort study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011: 22: 776–783 Background:  Several studies have shown that predictors of asthma treatment outcomes differ depending on the definition of the outcome chosen. This provides evidence that different outcomes studied may reflect distinct aspects of asthma control. To assess predictors of asthma control, we need firm outcome phenotypes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between measurements of current and long‐term asthma control. Methods:  We included 527 children using inhaled corticosteroids participating in the Pharmacogenetics of Asthma medication in Children: Medication with ANti‐inflammatory effects cohort. Current asthma control (previous week) was defined using the Asthma Control Questionnaire. Long‐term asthma control was based on Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. Not well‐controlled asthma in a season was defined as ≥3 of the following items present in a season: (i) day‐time or (ii) night‐time symptoms, (iii) limitations in activities, and (iv) rescue medication use. Asthma control during (i) the previous season and (ii) the year preceding the pharmacy visit was used as long‐term asthma control definitions. Current and long‐term asthma control were compared to investigate agreement. Results:  Long‐term uncontrolled asthma rates were highest in autumn and winter (50%) and lowest in summer (32%) (p