Biomedical subjects

E F Juniper

Publications and source records attributed to E F Juniper.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Responsiveness, longitudinal- and cross-sectional construct validity of the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) in Dutch children with asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Health-related quality of life is an important measure in evaluations of the management of childhood asthma. In this study, we assessed psychometric properties, responsiveness, and longitudinal and cross-sectional construct validity of the Dutch version of the 23-item Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ). METHODS: The study group consisted of 238 6-18-year olds with asthma, with complete respiratory symptom diaries in the course of one winter season; each child had one (or more) PAQLQ measurement(s) concerning one (or more) week(s) with relatively many symptoms (n = 238). Each child also had one PAQLQ measurement concerning another week with relatively few symptoms (n = 238). The PAQLQ scores of the 238 children for a week with few symptoms (the symptom diary scores remained below a predefined level everyday) were compared with their PAQLQ scores for another week with many symptoms (on day 1 of that week, symptom diary scores had been above the predefined level). Additionally, in a subgroup of the study group that had experienced two or more 'weeks with many symptoms' (n = 101), we compared the PAQLQ-scores for two different weeks with many symptoms of these children. RESULTS: Only the domain Emotions showed a ceiling effect (>25% had the maximum score). All Cronbach's alpha's of the PAQLQ total score and domains were >0.70, except for Activities (alpha = 0.54). Mean PAQLQ-scores were significantly different (p < 0.01; n = 238) between one week with few symptoms and another week with many symptoms. Contrary, in the subgroup of children with PAQLQ-measurements regarding more than one week with many symptoms (n = 101), mean PAQLQ-scores did not differ significantly (p > or = 0.05) between 1 week with many symptoms and another week with many symptoms. These results indicate responsiveness. (Changes in) lower respiratory tract symptoms, indicative of asthma severity, correlated better with (changes in) PAQLQ scores than (changes in) upper respiratory tract symptoms, which supports the longitudinal and cross-sectional construct validity. CONCLUSION: The assessed properties of the PAQLQ linguistic validation into Dutch were similar to those originally established for the PAQLQ in Canada. This study showed that the Dutch PAQLQ has adequate psychometric properties, excellent responsiveness, and that the longitudinal and cross-sectional construct validity is supported.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Relationship between quality of life and clinical status in asthma: a factor analysis.

Many studies have shown that correlation between clinical asthma status and asthma-specific quality of life is only weak to moderate. However, this relationship has never been explored to determine whether the weakness is due to noise of measurement or whether quality of life is a distinct component of asthma health status. With a database from three clinical trials (n = 763), factor analysis was used to explore the relationships between quality of life, measured by the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and conventional measures of asthma clinical status (symptoms, airway calibre and rescue beta2-agonist use). The analysis revealed that although patients with severe, poorly controlled asthma tend to have worse quality of life than milder, well-controlled patients, overall asthma health status has four components (factors): asthma-specific quality of life; airway calibre; daytime symptoms and daytime beta2-agonist use, and night-time symptoms and night-time beta2-agonist use. The clean loading of all 21 outcomes onto four distinct and clinically identifiable factors suggests that, although some weakness of correlation between clinical indices and quality of life may be due to noise of measurement, it is mainly attributable to asthma health status being composed of distinct components.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2003

Health-related quality of life in asthma studies. Can we combine data from different countries?

The aim was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with asthma from 4 countries, and to investigate the correlations between HRQL and clinical indices.341 patients; 140 (Sweden), 54 (Norway), 65 (the Netherlands) and 82 (Greece) were treated with formoterol fumarate 4.5 microg or with terbutaline sulphate 0.5mg for 12 weeks inhaled 'on demand' via Turbuhaler. The Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and clinical indices were assessed. The mean baseline AQLQ overall scores in Sweden (4.97), in the Netherlands (5.04), in Norway (4.68) and in Greece (4.68) were in the same range, however, with a significant difference between the four countries (p=0.038). When comparing AQLQ, activity limitation and symptoms domains, the differences between the countries were not statistically significant. The cross-sectional correlations between AQLQ overall score and the clinical indices were similar in all four countries. The magnitude of change in AQLQ was consistent with the other clinical variables. The correlations between change in AQLQ overall score and change in clinical indices were low to medium in all countries. In conclusion, the consistency of cross-sectional correlations between the AQLQ overall and clinical indices across countries supports the validity of translations of the AQLQ used in this study. There were differences in baseline values between the countries. The treatment response in AQLQ differed to the same extent as other clinical indices. When combining HRQL data from different countries, there might be cultural, gender and socio-economic differences, explaining different responses to treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Can the standard gamble and rating scale be used to measure quality of life in rhinoconjunctivitis? Comparison with the RQLQ and SF-36.

BACKGROUND: With interest in health economics growing, it is important to know whether utilities may be used to measure health-related quality of life in patients with rhinoconjunctivitis. The objective was to compare the validity and measurement properties of disease-specific versions of the standard gamble and rating scale with those of the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) and the Short-Form 36 (SF-36). METHODS: One hundred adults with symptomatic rhinoconjunctivitis participated in a 5 week observational study, completing the standard gamble, rating scale, RQLQ and SF-36 at baseline and after 1 and 5 weeks. Symptom diaries were completed for 1 week before each follow-up visit. RESULTS: Reliability was highest for the RQLQ (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97), followed by the rating scale (0.75), the SF-36 physical (0.75), the SF-36 mental (0.74) and the standard gamble (0.12). The responsiveness index was highest for the RQLQ (0.76), followed by the rating scale (0.56) and the SF-36 mental (0.28). Both cross-sectional and longitudinal validity were strongest for the RQLQ and the rating scale. CONCLUSIONS: Both the rating scale and the RQLQ have strong evaluative and discriminative properties. The SF-36 has acceptable discriminative properties but its evaluative properties are poor. All measurement properties for the standard gamble are inadequate. Poor correlation between the standard gamble and the rating scale indicates that utilities cannot be derived from rating scale data.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Olopatadine ophthalmic solution adjunctive to loratadine compared with loratadine alone in patients with active seasonal allergic conjunctivitis symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Olopatadine ophthalmic solution 0.1% (Patanol, Alcon Laboratories, Fort Woth, TX) is approved for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. Loratadine 10 mg (Claritin, Schering-Plough, Madison, NJ) is a nonsedating oral antihistamine approved for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of olopatadine used adjunctively with loratadine versus loratadine alone in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. METHODS: This three-center, observer-masked, treatment-controlled, randomized, parallel-group study involved patients aged 7 to 74 years with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Patients were treated for 7 days with either olopatadine twice daily adjunctive to loratadine once daily or only loratadine once daily. Efficacy variables (ocular itching and redness, physician's impression, patient's impression, patient diary ratings of ocular redness and itching), and safety parameters were evaluated during the screening visit and on days 0, 3, and 7. Patients completed the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire on days 0 and 7. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients received study drug. Patients receiving olopatadine twice daily in addition to loratadine once daily exhibited less ocular itching (P = 0.0436) and rated their ocular condition as more improved compared with those receiving loratadine alone (P < 0.0022). Twenty minutes after initial dosing, olopatadine plus loratadine relieved ocular itching and redness significantly better than loratadine alone (P = 0.001). Both treatment groups showed clinically meaningful improvements in overall quality of life in all but one of the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire domains. Overall, and in most domains, olopatadine plus loratadine also provided significantly better (P < 0.05) quality of life than loratadine alone at day 7. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with loratadine alone, olopatadine adjunctive to loratadine provides greater relief of ocular itching and redness, a better quality of life, and is well tolerated in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Does electronic implementation of questionnaires used in asthma alter responses compared to paper implementation?

BACKGROUND: Electronic implementation of questionnaires has many advantages, but there may be concerns that it alters versions that were validated on paper. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether electronic implementation alters responses to the SF-36 and asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ), compared to paper implementation. METHODS: Patients with asthma presenting to a pneumologist were asked for consent to participate. Each patient completed both forms of each questionnaire. The order of presentation was alternated sequentially, with the first patient completing the electronic version first. Each patient waited at least 2 hours between completions to minimize recollection of answers. For both the SF-36 and AQLQ, intraclass correlations coefficients were calculated to compare patients' scores, for each scale and overall, on the electronic and paper versions. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients (mean age: 48 years, 50 females) of 311 contacted were enrolled. Overall intraclass correlation coefficients for the SF-36 and AQLQ were excellent (0.965 and 0.991 respectively). For paper versions, eight questions (AQLQ) and 24 (SF-36) were left blank and nine questions (SF-36) were answered incorrectly by patients selecting more than one answer. Electronic data for one patient could not be retrieved. CONCLUSION: Collecting SF-36 and AQLQ data electronically can decrease the number of spoiled responses without altering the results. Successful implementation depends on proper instruction of the respondent in the handling of the electronic instrument.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Measuring asthma control in group studies: do we need airway calibre and rescue beta2-agonist use?

Collection of airway calibre and beta2-agonist data in large clinical trials and epidemiological surveys is sometimes difficult and may be an inefficient use of resources. The aim of this study was to determine whether the omission of the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) and beta2-agonist questions from the seven-item Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) alters its measurement properties and validity. In an observational study, 50 adults with symptomatic asthma attended the clinic at 0, 1, 5 and 9 weeks to complete the ACQ and other measures of asthma status. All patients completed the study and provided complete data sets. Omission of the FEV1 and beta2-agonist questions from the ACQ made minimal difference to the reliability, responsiveness, and both cross-sectional and longitudinal validity of the instrument. Omission of the FEV1 question significantly lowered the summary score (P<0.001) but omission of the beta2-agonist question did not alter it (P>0.05). In group studies, both the FEV1 and beta2-agonist questions may be omitted from the ACQ without changing the validity or the measurement properties of the instrument. Lowering of the summary score by the omission of the FEV1 question means that data from this abbreviated form cannot be combined with or compared to data collected using the full questionnaire.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Clinical predictors of health-related quality of life depend on asthma severity.

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines define asthma severity before treatment by lung function and symptoms. It has been assumed, but not demonstrated, that improvement in these measures would translate into improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQL). Because HRQL is an important outcome in asthma management, we asked what are the determinants of HRQL? To address this question, we retrospectively analyzed HRQL data, as measured by the Juniper Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, in subjects with mild versus moderate-severe asthma from two clinical trials. We examined whether these traditional clinical outcomes have different relationships to HRQL depending on asthma severity. We also assessed whether the relationship between clinical outcomes and HRQL in subjects with moderate-severe asthma would change when subjects improved to mild-moderate disease with controller medication treatment. Lung function was not an independent predictor or determinant of HRQL at any level of asthma severity, whereas intensity of shortness of breath predicted HRQL at all levels of asthma severity. Rescue beta-agonist use independently predicted HRQL in subjects with mild asthma, but not in those with moderate-severe asthma. In subjects with moderate-severe asthma who improved to mild-moderate disease with controller treatment, rescue beta-agonist use predicted HRQL. We conclude that the independent determinants of HRQL vary according to asthma severity and change with asthma treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Comparison of the standard gamble, rating scale, AQLQ and SF-36 for measuring quality of life in asthma.

With interest in health economics growing, there is a demand for valid methods for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQL) in asthma using utilities. The aims of this study were to develop disease-specific versions of the standard gamble and rating scale, to compare their measurement properties with those of the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 36 (SF-36), as well as to determine their validity for assessing asthma-specific quality of life. Forty adults with symptomatic asthma participated in a 9-week observational study. Participants completed the standard gamble, rating scale, AQLQ, SF-36 and other measures of clinical asthma status at baseline and after 1, 5 and 9 weeks. In patients whose asthma was stable between assessments, reliability was good for the rating scale (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.89) and the AQLQ (ICC=0.95) but more modest for the SF-36 mental score (ICC=0.68), SF-36 physical score (ICC=0.65) and standard gamble (ICC=0.59). The responsiveness index was highest in the AQLQ (1.35), followed by the rating scale (0.74), the physical score of the SF-36 (0.61) and the standard gamble (0.31). Construct validity (correlation with other indices of health status) was strongest for the AQLQ and the rating scale. In conclusion, both the disease-specific rating scale and the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire have strong measurement properties for measuring asthma-specific quality of life; the Short-Form 36 health survey physical summary score has more modest properties. Although the disease-specific standard gamble has acceptable discriminative properties, its evaluative properties are too inadequate for it to be used in cost/utility analyses. Poor correlation between the standard gamble and the rating scale indicates that utilities cannot be derived from rating scale data.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2001

Using humanistic health outcomes data in asthma.

One of the aims of treatment of asthma is to improve patient well-being, which incorporates the concept of patients' perceptions of how they feel and their ability to function in their everyday life [health-related quality of life (HR-QOL)]. The weak association between conventional measures of clinical status in asthma and asthma-specific quality of life means that quality of life must be measured directly--it cannot be inferred from clinical measures. HR-QOL is measured using instruments which elicit information from patients about the impact of the disease and its treatment on both their physical and emotional functioning. Such instruments may be generic (used for all diseases) or specific to a particular group of patients, function or disease. Disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaires are useful in clinical trials and practice because they are more responsive to small but clinically important changes than generic instruments. Generic instruments provide an estimate of the patients' burden of illness that can be compared with the burden experienced by patients with other medical conditions. Consequently, HR-QOL should be included as an outcome measure in all assessments of asthma.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Development and validation of the mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The 28-item Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) has strong measurement properties but for large clinical trials, surveys and practice monitoring, where high efficiency is important, a shorter questionnaire is needed. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate an abbreviated version of the RQLQ. METHODS: Using five RQLQ databases, items with high item-item correlations were combined and then the highest scoring items were selected for the MiniRQLQ (14 questions). There are five domains: activity limitations (standardized), practical problems and nose symptoms, eye symptoms and other symptoms. The MiniRQLQ, which is self-administered, was tested in a 5-week observational study in 100 adults with symptomatic rhinoconjunctivitis. Patients completed the MiniRQLQ, the RQLQ, and other measures of health status at baseline, 1 and 5 weeks. RESULTS: In patients whose rhinoconjunctivitis was stable between clinic visits, reliability (reproducibility and ability to discriminate between patients of different impairment) was very acceptable for the MiniRQLQ (ICC = 0.93) but not quite as good as for the RQLQ (ICC = 0.97). Responsiveness to change in clinical status was better with the MiniRQLQ than the RQLQ (P = 0. 044). Construct validity (correlation with other indices of health status) was strong for both the MiniRQLQ and the RQLQ. Concordance between the two instruments was high (ICC = 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: The MiniRQLQ has strong measurement properties and measures the same construct as the original RQLQ. The choice of questionnaire should depend on the task at hand.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Comparison of the efficacy, safety and quality of life provided by fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg, loratadine 10 mg and placebo administered once daily for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: As there have been no previously published studies, this multinational, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group study compared the efficacy, safety and impact on quality of life (QoL) in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients (SAR) of fexofenadine and loratadine (with placebo), when administered once daily. METHODS: Six hundred and eighty-eight SAR patients were randomized to receive fexofenadine HCl 120 mg, loratadine 10 mg or placebo, once daily for 2 weeks. The key parameters were the change from baseline in: mean 24-h reflective total symptom scores (TSS); sum of four individual symptom scores, excluding nasal congestion; instantaneous TSS; individual symptom scores including nasal congestion; and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). Adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: Mean 24-h reflective and instantaneous TSS were significantly reduced by both fexofenadine HCl (both P </= 0.0001) and loratadine (P </= 0.001 and P </= 0.005, respectively) compared with placebo (n = 639). Among individual symptom scores, fexofenadine HCl was significantly better than loratadine in improving 24-h reflective itchy, watery, red eyes, as well as relieving nasal congestion (P </= 0.05 for both). Fexofenadine HCl was also significantly better than loratadine (P </= 0.03) and placebo (P </= 0.005) in improving QoL, and the differences were of a magnitude considered to be clinically relevant. Loratadine had no statistically significant effect on QoL compared with placebo. The incidence of adverse events was low and similar across all treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Fexofenadine HCl and loratadine administered once daily are effective and well tolerated in SAR. In this study, fexofenadine HCl was significantly more effective than loratadine in relieving eye symptoms and nasal congestion. Furthermore, fexofenadine was significantly better than loratadine in improving QoL.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Measuring asthma control. Clinic questionnaire or daily diary?

Daily symptom, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and medication diaries are often used in clinical trials of treatments for asthma on the assumption that they provide a better estimate of clinical status than does a questionnaire completed in the clinic. We conducted a study with the aim of comparing the measurement properties of the clinic-completed Asthma Control Questionnaire with those of the Asthma Control Diary. The diary is composed of questions and response options almost identical to those of the questionnaire, but uses PEFR instead of FEV(1) as the measure of airway caliber. In an observational study, 50 adults with symptomatic asthma attended a McMaster University asthma clinic at 0, 1, 5, and 9 wk to complete the Asthma Control Questionnaire and other measures of asthma status. For 1 wk before each follow-up visit, patients completed the Asthma Control Diary every morning and evening. Concordance between the questionnaire and diary was high (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.87). Both reliability (ICC: questionnaire = 0.90; diary = 0.86) and responsiveness (responsiveness index: questionnaire = 1.06; diary = 0.90; p = 0.005) were better with the questionnaire than with the diary. Correlations between the two instruments and other measures of clinical asthma status were similar and close to a priori predictions. Both the Asthma Control Questionnaire and the Asthma Control Diary are valid instruments for measuring asthma control, but the questionnaire has slightly better discriminative and evaluative measurement properties than does the diary.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Development and validation of the mini-osteoporosis quality of life questionnaire (OQLQ) in osteoporotic women with back pain due to vertebral fractures. Osteoporosis Quality of Life Study Group.

The objective of the study was to evaluate a shortened osteoporosis quality of life questionnaire (OQLQ) in osteoporotic women with back pain due to vertebral fractures. From the longer 30-item OQLQ (four to nine items per domain) we created the mini-OQLQ by choosing the two items with the highest impact in each of five domains (symptoms, physical function, activities of daily living, emotional function, leisure). We administered the OQLQ, the Sickness Impact Profile, the SF-36 and the Brief Pain Index to patients at baseline, after 2 weeks and after 6 months. The intraclass correlations between baseline and the 2-week follow-up for the five mini-OQLQ domains ranged from 0.72 to 0.86. Cross-sectional correlations between the domains of the mini-OQLQ and other health instruments were moderate to large (0.35-0.80) and greater than predicted. The mini-OQLQ items showed moderate to large correlations with items omitted from the shortened questionnaire (0. 44-0.88). Correlations between the OQLQ domains and the other three instruments were greater than those of the mini-OQLQ, and partial correlations between OQLQ items omitted from the mini-OQLQ and the other three instruments after considering mini-OQLQ items were substantial (0.19-0.71) and statistically significant. Sample sizes of less than 200 per group should be required to detect minimally important differences in parallel-group clinical trials. Longitudinal correlations between the mini-OQLQ and the other measures were often significant but generally lower than predicted (0.10-0.49). The partial correlations revealed that the omitted items explained a significant portion of the longitudinal variance in each domain. We conclude that in a selected group of patients with back pain caused by vertebral fractures, the mini-OQLQ demonstrated good discriminative and adequate evaluative properties. The mini-questionnaire should be useful in clinical settings.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Validation of the standardized version of the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: In the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), the 3 activity questions are selected by the patients themselves. For greater efficiency, a version with standardized activities is required. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to develop and validate a standardized version of the RQLQ, the RQLQ(S). METHODS: With use of 5 RQLQ databases, we identified the activities most frequently selected by patients and formulated 3 generic questions that would encompass the majority of these activities. The RQLQ(S) was tested in a 5-week observational study in 100 adults with symptomatic rhinoconjunctivitis. Patients completed the RQLQ(S), the RQLQ, and other measures of health status at baseline and 1 and 5 weeks. RESULTS: The activity domain of the RQLQ(S) consistently gave lower scores than did the activity domain of the RQLQ (P <.001). However, this made very little difference to the overall scores (RQLQ[S] = 2.36 +/- 1.23, RQLQ = 2.43 +/- 1.23), and overall concordance was high (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.996). In patients whose rhinoconjunctivitis was stable between clinic visits, reliability (reproducibility and ability to discriminate between patients of different impairment) was high for both instruments and almost identical (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97). Responsiveness to change was also very similar and good (P <.001). Construct validity (correlation with other index values of health status) was strong for both the RQLQ(S) and the RQLQ. CONCLUSIONS: The RQLQ(S) has strong measurement properties and measures the same construct as the original RQLQ. The choice of questionnaire should depend on the task at hand.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1999

Development and validation of the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire.

The 32-item Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) has shown good responsiveness, reliability and construct validity; properties that are essential for use in clinical trials, clinical practice and surveys. However, to meet the needs of large clinical trials and long-term monitoring, where efficiency may take precedent over precision of measurement, the 15-item self-administered MiniAQLQ has been developed. The MiniAQLQ was tested in a 9-week observational study of 40 adults with symptomatic asthma. Patients completed the MiniAQLQ, the AQLQ, the Short Form (SF)-36, the Asthma Control Questionnaire and spirometry at baseline, 1, 5 and 9 weeks. In patients whose asthma was stable between clinic visits, reliability was very acceptable for the MiniAQLQ (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.83), but not quite as good as for the AQLQ (ICC=0.95). Similarly, responsiveness in the MiniAQLQ (p=0.0007) was good but not quite so good as for the AQLQ (p<0.0001). Construct validity (correlation with other indices of health status) was strong for both the MiniAQLQ and the AQLQ. Criterion validity showed that there was no bias between the instruments (p=0.61) and the correlation between them was high (r=0.90). The Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire has good measurement properties but they are not quite as strong as those of the original Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. The choice of questionnaire should depend on the task at hand.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Development and validation of a questionnaire to measure asthma control.

International guidelines on asthma management indicate that the primary goal of treatment should be optimum asthma control. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). The authors generated a list of all symptoms used to assess control and sent it to 100 asthma clinicians who were members of guidelines committees (18 countries). They scored each symptom for its importance in evaluating asthma control. From the 91 responses, the five highest scoring symptoms were selected for the ACQ. In addition, there is one question on beta2-agonist use and another on airway calibre (total questions=7). The ACQ was tested in a 9-week observational study of 50 adults with symptomatic asthma. The ACQ and other measures of asthma health status were assessed at baseline, 1, 5 and 9 weeks. In patients whose asthma was stable between clinic visits, reliability of the ACQ was high (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.90). The questionnaire was very responsive to change in asthma control (p<0.0001). Cross-sectional and longitudinal validity were supported by correlations between the ACQ and other measures of asthma health status being close to a priori predictions. In conclusion, the Asthma Control Questionnaire has strong evaluative and discriminative properties and can be used with confidence to measure asthma control.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Health-related quality of life in asthma.

One aim of caring for adults and children with asthma should be the identification and treatment of the functional impairments that are troublesome to these patients in their daily lives. Studies have shown that correlations between measures of clinical asthma severity and control and health-related quality of life (HRQL) impairment are only weak to moderate. Therefore, HRQL must be measured directly. In recent years, HRQL questionnaires have been developed and validated to measure the functional (physical, social, emotional, and occupational) impairments that are important to both adults and children with asthma. Most questionnaires are now available in a range of languages. More recently, methods have been developed for the clinical interpretation on HRQL data. Assessment of asthma-specific HRQL can be included in both clinical trials and clinical practice, in conjunction with the conventional measures of airway function, to provide a complete picture of patients' health status.

Adult↗