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Evaluation of association between exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction and childhood asthma control test questionnaire scores in children
Author(s) -
Chinellato Iolanda,
Piazza Michele,
Sandri Marco,
Cardinale Fabio,
Peroni Diego G.,
Boner Attilio L.,
Piacentini Giorgio L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.21542
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , concordance , bronchoconstriction , physical therapy , association (psychology) , test (biology) , treadmill , cohen's kappa , psychology , paleontology , machine learning , computer science , psychotherapist , biology
Objective Asthma control represents a major challenge in the management of asthmatic children; however, correct perception of control is poor. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between subjective answers given to the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C‐ACT) and objective evaluation of exercise‐induced bronchonstriction (EIB) by standardized treadmill exercise challenge. Methods EIB was evaluated by standardized treadmill exercise challenge and related to C‐ACT scores in 92 asthmatic children. Results Of the 92 studied children only six children had a concordance between a positive challenge test (ΔFEV1 ≥ 13%) and a positive response to the exercise‐related issue of the C‐ACT questionnaire (C‐ACT total score ≤ 19). There was no significant association between the degree of EIB and the scores relative to the single question on exercise‐related problems while a significant association was found when considering the whole questionnaire with C‐ACT total score > 19 (r = −0.40, P < 0.001). The two single questions showing a significant association were those focusing on nocturnal asthma. The areas under the ROC curve (AUC) for the sum of the scores of these questions in relationship to a positive response to the exercise test was 0.74. The AUC of the C‐ACT total score was 0.76 and 0.55 for the specific question on EIB related problems. Conclusion The discrimination power of the C‐ACT total score in relationship to EIB was moderately good, and C‐ACT questionnaire was capable of correctly predicting the absence of EIB in children reporting a global score > 19. However, direct questions on EIB are associated with a high number of false positive and negative responses; better associations are found questioning on the presence on nocturnal symptoms. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012; 47:226–232. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.