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VOLUME 60 , ISSUE 4 ( October-December, 2018 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Asthma Control Test and Correlation with Spirometry and Inflammatory Markers in Asthma Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre in India

Mohammed Noufal Poongadan, Raj Kumar

Keywords : Asthma, FeNO, Lung function, Allergic sensitisation

Citation Information : Poongadan MN, Kumar R. Asthma Control Test and Correlation with Spirometry and Inflammatory Markers in Asthma Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre in India. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2018; 60 (4):239-244.

DOI: 10.5005/ijcdas-60-4-239

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 18-11-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2018; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Asthma control test (ACT) is a simple, quick and accurate tool to assess asthma control. The present study was designed to investigate the correlation between, ACT, spirometry variables and markers of airway inflammation. Methods: Seventy-five patients with bronchial asthma underwent baseline spirometry, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), serum total immunoglobulin E (TIgE), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and IL-13 measurements. After four weeks, patients were followed up with the same set of investigations. ACT questionnaire was completed without any directions. Results: Of 75 patients, bronchial asthma was controlled poorly in 18, well in 35 and totally controlled in 22. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (%) at the second visit was lowest in the poorly control group (76.94±14.20 versus 84.06±11.95 versus 91.50±10.66; p<0.002). The ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FVC) at the second visit showed lowest values (71.99±10.59 versus 77.70±9.05 versus 85.77±8.37; p<0.001) in patients with poorly control asthma. Notably, the change in FeNO, TIgE and IL-6 levels in two visits reached significant levels (p<0.05). Using the step-wise method for regression analysis, ÄFeNO, FEV1/FVC and ÄTIgE level explain a substantial amount of the variance in the ACT score (F[1, 71] = 33.70, p<0.001, R2 = 0.58, R2 Adjusted = 0.57). The negative correlation of ÄFeNO and ÄTIgE and positive correlation of FEV1/FVC at the second visit with statistical significance at p<0.001. Conclusion: The present study emphasises on combined approach including clinical features (ACT), spirometry variable (FEV1/FVC) and airway inflammatory markers (FeNO) for documenting the precise control of asthma at the follow-up visit.


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