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Biomedical subjects

Michael D Murray

Publications and source records attributed to Michael D Murray.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Correlates of health literacy in patients with chronic heart failure.

PURPOSE: Many older adults have inadequate health-related literacy, which is associated with poor health outcomes. Thus, it is important to identify determinants of health literacy. We investigated relationships between health literacy and general cognitive and sensory abilities, as well as education, health, and demographic variables, in a community sample of middle-aged and older adults. DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants were 314 community-dwelling adults (67% female, 48% African American) diagnosed with chronic heart failure recruited for a pharmacist-based intervention study to improve adherence to chronic heart failure medications. We adminstered demographic, health, education, cognitive (e.g., processing speed, working memory), and sensory measures, and the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA), as part of the baseline condition of this study. RESULTS: STOFHLA scores were lower for participants who were older, less educated, male, African American, had more comorbidities, or scored lower on all cognitive ability measures. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that education and cognitive ability were independently associated with the STOFHLA measure and explained age differences in health literacy. IMPLICATIONS: The association of cognitive abilities and literacy has important implications for health literacy models and for interventions to reduce the impact of low health literacy on health outcomes. For example, medication instructions should be designed to reduce comprehension demands on general cognitive abilities as well as literacy skills.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

The Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program.

The Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program (ICDMP) is intended to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care for Medicaid members with congestive heart failure (chronic heart failure), diabetes, asthma, and other conditions. The ICDMP is being assembled by Indiana Medicaid primarily from state and local resources and has seven components: (1) identification of eligible participants to create regional registries, (2) risk stratification of eligible participants, (3) nurse care management for high-risk participants, (4) telephonic intervention for all participants, (5) an Internet-based information system, (6) quality improvement collaboratives for primary care practices, and (7) program evaluation. The evaluation involves a randomized controlled trial in two inner-city group practices, as well as a statewide observational design. This article describes the ICDMP, highlights challenges, and discusses approaches to its evaluation.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2006

Factors associated with drug adherence and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine characteristics associated with drug adherence and blood pressure control among patients with hypertension, and to assess agreement between self-reported and refill adherences. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Primary care center at an urban, county health system in Indianapolis, Indiana. PATIENTS: Four hundred ninety-two participants with hypertension and taking at least one antihypertensive drug. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Social and demographic factors, comorbidity, self-reported drug adherence, prescription refill adherence, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were recorded at baseline. Participants were aged 57 +/- 11 (mean +/- SD) years, were predominantly women (73%) and African-American (68%), and took 2.4 +/- 1.1 antihypertensive drugs. Agreement between self-reported and refill adherences was poor to fair (kappa = 0.21). On multiple logistic regression analysis, increased age (p< or =0.002) and being married (p=0.03) were independent predictors of improved self-reported and refill adherence, whereas depressed patients had low self-reported adherence (p=0.005), and African-Americans had low refill adherence (p<0.001). Compared with nonadherent patients, adherent patients had lower systolic (-5.4 mm Hg by self-report and -5.0 mm Hg by refill) and diastolic (-2.7 mm Hg by self-report and -3.0 mm Hg by refill) blood pressures (p< or =0.02). Increased age was the only other variable strongly associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure control in both measures of drug adherence (p< or =0.001). The association of depression, race, and sex with blood pressure control was model dependent. CONCLUSION: Age, sex, race and depression are associated with antihypertensive drug adherence and blood pressure control. Self-reported and refill adherences appear to provide complementary information and are associated with reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of similar magnitude.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Association of refill adherence and health care use among adults with hypertension in an urban health care system.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the rates of undersupply, appropriate supply, and oversupply of antihypertensive drugs, as measured by refill adherence, among patients with complicated and uncomplicated hypertension (i.e., patients who have and have not, respectively, experienced hypertension-related target organ damage), and to examine the association of refill adherence with hospitalization and health care costs among these patients. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records. SETTING: An urban, public health care system. PATIENTS: A total of 15,206 patients aged 18 years or older whose electronic medical records indicated a clinical diagnosis of hypertension based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes, and who had received at least one prescription of an antihypertensive drug from 1995-2001. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We used multivariable analyses to investigate the association of refill adherence with hospitalization and costs. On average, 53% of patients had appropriate supplies (80-120% of supplies needed), 7% had undersupplies, and 40% had oversupplies of drug annually. For patients with complicated hypertension, an undersupply of drug was associated with a 15% greater probability (p=0.009) and an oversupply with a 16% greater probability (p<0.0001) of hospitalization. Among those with uncomplicated hypertension, oversupply was associated with an 11% greater probability (p=0.0002) of hospitalization; undersupply was not associated with greater probability of hospitalization. Total health care costs were lower for patients with undersupplies and higher for those with oversupplies of drug. CONCLUSION: Among adults in an urban health care system with complicated hypertension, both undersupply and oversupply of drug were associated with increased hospitalization rates. Monitoring refill adherence of patients, particularly those with low income, minority status, and complicated hypertension, may be useful for targeting patients with undersupplies of drug to encourage refill adherence and identifying patients with oversupplies, who are at high risk of hospitalization.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Association between adherence measurements of metoprolol and health care utilization in older patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: Data from electronic dosing monitors and published pharmacokinetic parameters were used to derive medication adherence measures for immediate-release metoprolol and examine their association with health care utilization of outpatients aged 50 years or older with heart failure. METHODS: We used a 1-compartment model and published population pharmacokinetic parameters to estimate mean plasma metoprolol concentrations for patients treated for 6 to 12 months. In the absence of directly measured plasma concentrations, we calculated the intended mean plasma concentration (Cp'(ave)) under the assumption of perfect adherence to the prescribed dose and frequency of administration. Projected mean plasma concentrations (Cp(ave)) were estimated by use of data from recorded dosing times. In addition to taking adherence (percentage of dose taken) and scheduling adherence (percentage of doses taken on schedule), we calculated the deviation from the intended exposure (DeltaCp(ave) = Cp'(ave) - Cp(ave)) and the proportion of intended exposure achieved by the patient (Cp(ave) /Cp'(ave)). We assessed the association between the adherence measures and the numbers of emergency department visits and hospital admissions experienced by the patients. RESULTS: Patients (N = 80) were aged 62 +/- 8 years. Mean DeltaCp(ave) and Cp(ave)/Cp'(ave) were 7.9 ng/mL (SD, 10.7) and 0.6 (SD, 0.3), respectively. Log-linear models adjusted for patient functional status indicated that greater deviation from the intended metoprolol exposure (DeltaCp(ave)) was associated with increased numbers of emergency department visits ( P < .0001) and hospital admissions (P < .0001). A higher proportion of intended exposure (Cp(ave) /Cp'(ave)) corresponded to a reduced number of emergency department visits (P = .0204) and hospital admissions (P = .0093). Taking adherence was univariately associated with both emergency department visits and hospital visits (P < .0001 and P = .0010, respectively). Scheduling adherence was associated with the number of emergency department visits (P = .0181) but not with the number of hospital admissions (P = .1602). Model selection procedures consistently chose the proposed measures over taking adherence and scheduling adherence. CONCLUSION: Deviation from the intended exposure and proportion of intended exposure achieved by the patient are valid adherence measures for immediate-release metoprolol and are associated with health care utilization. The potential utility of these measures for other beta-adrenergic antagonists and perhaps other cardiovascular drugs should be investigated.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Improving medication knowledge among older adults with heart failure: a patient-centered approach to instruction design.

PURPOSE: We investigated whether patient-centered instructions for chronic heart failure medications increase comprehension and memory for medication information in older adults diagnosed with chronic heart failure. DESIGN AND METHODS: Patient-centered instructions for familiar and unfamiliar medications were compared with instructions for the same medications from a chain pharmacy (standard pharmacy instructions). Thirty-two adults (age, M = 63.8) read and answered questions about each instruction, recalled medication information (free recall), and then answered questions from memory (cued recall). RESULTS: Patient-centered instructions were better recalled and understood more quickly than the standard instructions. Instructions for the familiar medications also were better recalled. Patient-centered instructions were understood more accurately for the unfamiliar medications, but standard instructions were understood more accurately for the familiar medications. However, the recall measures showed that the advantage of the standard format for familiar medications was short lived. IMPLICATIONS: The findings suggest that the patient-centered format may improve printed medication instructions available in many pharmacies, which should help older adults to better understand how to take their medications.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Indiana chronic disease management program risk stratification analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the ability of risk stratification models derived from administrative data to classify groups of patients for enrollment in a tailored chronic disease management program. SUBJECTS: This study included 19,548 Medicaid patients with chronic heart failure or diabetes in the Indiana Medicaid data warehouse during 2001 and 2002. MEASURES: To predict costs (total claims paid) in FY 2002, we considered candidate predictor variables available in FY 2001, including patient characteristics, the number and type of prescription medications, laboratory tests, pharmacy charges, and utilization of primary, specialty, inpatient, emergency department, nursing home, and home health care. METHODS: We built prospective models to identify patients with different levels of expenditure. Model fit was assessed using R statistics, whereas discrimination was assessed using the weighted kappa statistic, predictive ratios, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: We found a simple least-squares regression model in which logged total charges in FY 2002 were regressed on the log of total charges in FY 2001, the number of prescriptions filled in FY 2001, and the FY 2001 eligibility category, performed as well as more complex models. This simple 3-parameter model had an R of 0.30 and, in terms in classification efficiency, had a sensitivity of 0.57, a specificity of 0.90, an area under the receiver operator curve of 0.80, and a weighted kappa statistic of 0.51. CONCLUSION: This simple model based on readily available administrative data stratified Medicaid members according to predicted future utilization as well as more complicated models.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Can computer-generated evidence-based care suggestions enhance evidence-based management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? A randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Translation of evidence-based guidelines into clinical practice has been inconsistent. We performed a randomized, controlled trial of guideline-based care suggestions delivered to physicians when writing orders on computer workstations. STUDY SETTING: Inner-city academic general internal medicine practice. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial of 246 physicians (25 percent faculty general internists, 75 percent internal medicine residents) and 20 outpatient pharmacists. We enrolled 706 of their primary care patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Care suggestions concerning drugs and monitoring were delivered to a random half of the physicians and pharmacists when writing orders or filling prescriptions using computer workstations. A 2 x 2 factorial randomization of practice sessions and pharmacists resulted in four groups of patients: physician intervention, pharmacist intervention, both interventions, and controls. DATA EXTRACTION/COLLECTION METHODS: Adherence to the guidelines and clinical activity was assessed using patients' electronic medical records. Health-related quality of life, medication adherence, and satisfaction with care were assessed using telephone questionnaires. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: During their year in the study, patients made an average of five scheduled primary care visits. There were no differences between groups in adherence to the care suggestions, generic or condition-specific quality of life, satisfaction with physicians or pharmacists, medication compliance, emergency department visits, or hospitalizations. Physicians receiving the intervention had significantly higher total health care costs. Physician attitudes toward guidelines were mixed. CONCLUSIONS: Care suggestions shown to physicians and pharmacists on computer workstations had no effect on the delivery or outcomes of care for patients with reactive airways disease.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2005

Medication and dietary compliance beliefs in heart failure.

Patients with heart failure are required to comply with a medication regimen and dietary sodium restrictions. The objectives of this study were to determine the most frequently perceived benefits of and barriers to compliance with medication and dietary sodium restrictions and evaluate the relevancy of these scale items for testing in tailored intervention studies. Data were collected as part of two studies that evaluated the psychometric properties of two questionnaires. The most frequently identified benefit of medication compliance was decreasing the chance of being hospitalized, and the most commonly reported barrier was disruption of sleep. Patients were knowledgeable about the benefits of compliance with dietary sodium restrictions, and the poor taste of food on the low sodium diet was the most common barrier. Heart failure patients perceive benefits of and barriers to compliance with therapeutic regimens that are likely to be amenable to tailored interventions designed to enhance compliance.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Association of medication adherence, knowledge, and skills with emergency department visits by adults 50 years or older with congestive heart failure.

PURPOSE: The association of medication adherence, knowledge, and skills with emergency department (ED) visits by patients 50 years of age or older with congestive heart failure (CHF) was studied. METHODS: The patients in this study were enrolled in the usual care group of an ongoing trial of patients with CHF to determine the effects of a pharmacy-based intervention on relevant outcomes. Participants' medication knowledge and skills were assessed during individual interviews. Medication knowledge assessed patients' knowledge of the dosage, frequency, and indication of each of their CHF medications. The medications skills assessment evaluated patients' dexterity (ability to open medication bottles), literacy (ability to read labels), and ability to distinguish colors of tablets and capsules. Medication adherence to CHF drugs was calculated from electronic monitors and prescription-refill records over a six-month period. The primary outcomes of this study were the numbers of all-cause cardiovascular and CHF-specific ED visits during a six-month period. Log-linear regression models were used to analyze the effects of medication knowledge, skill, and adherence on ED visits. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients participated in this study. Multivariate log-linear models adjusted for demographic variables showed that lower medication adherence (p < 0.001) and an inability to read standard prescription and auxiliary labels (p = 0.002) were associated with an increased number of cardiovascular-related ED visits. Knowledge of the prescribed dose was associated with CHF-specific ED visits (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Greater medication knowledge, skills, and adherence were associated with fewer ED visits among patients 50 years of age or older with CHF in an urban, teaching medical center.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Health care and medication costs and use among older adults with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure disproportionately affects older adults for whom multiple medications are prescribed to prevent exacerbations and hospitalization. To target interventions effectively, it is important to understand the association of medication acquisition with health care utilization and costs. METHODS: We used electronic medical records from an urban public health care system to identify patients aged >/=50 years who had a diagnosis of heart failure. We assessed the association between inappropriate or appropriate medication supplies and hospitalization and costs using multivariable analyses that adjusted for demographic characteristics, prior health care use, health status, and insurance status. RESULTS: Total health care costs for treating 1554 patients with heart failure from 1996 to 2000 were 36.6 million dollars (in 2000 dollars). Less than a third of patients received appropriate medication supplies (between 90% and 110% of the supplies needed) annually. Compared with patients with appropriate supplies, the odds of hospitalization were greater among those with undersupplies (odds ratio [OR] = 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.3 to 4.2; P <0.0001) or oversupplies (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.7 to 2.4; P <0.0001). Total costs were 25% higher for patients with undersupplies (95% CI: 8% to 46%; P = 0.004) and 18% higher for those with oversupplies (95% CI: 7% to 30%; P = 0.0009) than for those with appropriate supplies. CONCLUSION: Among adults with heart failure, inappropriate medication supplies were associated with increased hospitalization and higher costs. Monitoring medication supplies from electronic medical records may be a useful component of programs aiming to improve care while managing costs.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2004

A conceptual framework to study medication adherence in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Adults aged > or =50 years often have multiple chronic diseases requiring multiple medications. However, even drugs with well-documented benefits are often not taken as prescribed, for a variety of reasons. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article was to provide background information about medication adherence and its measurement, the development of the conceptual model for use in adherence research, and supportive intervention strategies such as pharmaceutical care by pharmacists to improve chronic medication use in older adults. METHODS: English-language literature published from 1990 to 2000 was searched on MEDLINE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and AARP Ageline using the terms aged, heart failure, CHF, adherence, chronic heart failure, compliance, and related terms. The authors used their personal files and libraries to obtain seminal literature and textbooks published before 1990. RESULTS: Although the cognitive processes needed to manage and take medications decline with aging, the number of prescription and nonprescription medications consumed increases. Other factors such as vision, hearing, health literacy, disability, and social and financial resources may all complicate the ability of older adults to adhere to the pharmacologic prescription. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors are associated with medication adherence and related health outcomes in older adults. Therefore, strategies to improve adherence will need to be multidimensional, including improvements in pharmacy services that consider age-related factors (eg, declining cognitive and physical functions) as well as a variety of environmental and social factors.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Patient-centered instructions for medications prescribed for the treatment of heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is associated with reduced functional capacity and quality of life, particularly among older adults. Complex medication regimens for CHF challenge older patients' ability to adhere to them, in part because of age-related cognitive decline and poor communication about medications. OBJECTIVE: This article describes patient-centered instructions for taking CHF medications that were developed as part of a multifaceted pharmacy-based intervention to improve medication adherence and health-related outcomes among older adults with CHF. The findings of 3 initial validation studies investigating patients' reactions to the instructions are reported. METHODS: Patients' responses to the instructions were measured using focus group (study 1) and questionnaire (studies 2 and 3) techniques. RESULTS: Overall, older adults with CHF in the 3 studies preferred the patient-centered instructions to the standard pharmacy instructions (93.8% in study 1, 65.0% in study 2). In addition, participants' preferences depended on their medication-related goals. A preference for patient-centered instructions reflected a focus on ease of understanding (as supported by the use of large type size, icons, and patient-centered organization), whereas a preference for the standard pharmacy instructions reflected a focus on the amount of information provided about drug interactions (studies 2 and 3). CONCLUSIONS: In the 3 validation studies, older adults with CHF tended to prefer the patient-centered instructions to the standard pharmacy instructions, although the results were not statistically significant in study 2. This suggests that the use of such instructions may improve patients' medication knowledge and their adherence to treatment regimens.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Methodology of an ongoing, randomized, controlled trial to improve drug use for elderly patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Medications can improve the functioning and health-related quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduce morbidity, mortality, and costs of treatment. However, patients may not adhere to therapy. Patients with complex medication regimens and low health literacy are at risk for nonadherence. OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this project is to develop and assess a multilevel pharmacy-based program to improve patient medication adherence and health outcomes for elderly CHF patients with low health literacy. METHODS: In this 4-year, controlled trial, patients aged 50 years with a diagnosis of CHF who are being treated at Wishard Health Services (Indianapolis, Indiana) are randomly assigned to pharmacist intervention or usual care. Intervention patients receive 9 months of pharmacist support and 3 months of postintervention follow-up. The intervention involves a pharmacist providing verbal and written education, icon-based labeling of medication containers, and therapeutic monitoring. The pharmacist identifies patients' barriers to appropriate drug use, coaches them on overcoming these barriers, and coordinates medication use issues with their primary care providers. Daily updates of relevant monitoring data are delivered via an electronic medical record system and stored in a personal computer system designed to support pharmacist monitoring and facilitate documentation of interventions. To measure medication adherence objectively, electronic monitoring lids are used on all CHF medications for patients in both study groups. Other assessments include self-reported medication adherence, results of echocardiography (eg, ejection fraction), brain natriuretic peptide concentrations, and health-related quality of life. Health services utilization, refill adherence, and cost data derive from electronic medical records. After completion of this study, the data can be used to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of our intervention. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two patients have been assigned to receive the intervention and 192 to receive usual care. CONCLUSIONS: Our study aims to improve patients' knowledge and self-management of their medication and to improve medication monitoring in a multilevel pharmacy-based intervention. By doing so, we intend that the intervention will improve the health outcomes of elderly patients with CHF.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Undertreatment of osteoporosis in women, based on detection of vertebral compression fractures on chest radiography.

BACKGROUND: Fractures attributable to ostcoporosis are responsible for preventable suffering and health care costs. Until they experience a fracture, many older adults, particularly women, are unaware that they have osteoporosis. Although radiographs taken for reasons other than evaluating the possibility of osteoporosis may suggest the presence of fracture, such fractures often go undetected and effective treatments are not implemented. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the adequacy of treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in middle-aged and older women in an internal medicine clinic, as ascertained by reports of chest radiography. The hypothesis was that patients having chest radiographs with observable vertebral compression fractures often did not receive adequate treatment. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted at a general internal medicine clinic at a university-affiliated county hospital. The records of an academic internal medicine practice were searched to identify women aged >or=40 years with radiologic evidence of vertebral compression fractures during the period from June 1, 1992, through May 31, 2002. Electronic prescription records were then searched to determine whether patients had received a prescription for a medication for the treatment of osteoporosis. An analysis also was conducted to describe the frequency distribution of various medications for the treatment of osteoporosis. RESULTS: One hundred thirteen women were identified who met the study criteria. Their mean (SD) age was 68.1 (21.9) years. Fifty-six (50%) of these women received pharmacologic treatment for osteoporosis. The most commonly prescribed medications were estrogens (35%), calcitonin (16%), and bisphosphonates (12%). CONCLUSIONS: No more than half of patients identified as having a vertebral compression fracture on chest radiography received even 1 prescription for the treatment of osteoporosis. Because this study did not examine adherence or long-term medication use, the proportion of women who received adequate osteoporosis therapy was probably much less than half. Physicians should be alert to the possible presence of vertebral compression fractures and take a more aggressive approach to treatment when a fracture is present.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Patients with elevated liver enzymes are not at higher risk for statin hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Studies that evaluate the risk of hepatotoxicity from statins in hyperlipidemic subjects with elevated baseline serum transaminases are lacking. We conducted a study to test the hypothesis that patients with elevated baseline liver enzymes have higher risk of statin hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Our study consisted of the following 3 cohorts of patients seen between January 1, 1998 and June 31, 2002: Cohort 1: 342 hyperlipidemic patients with elevated baseline enzymes (AST >40 IU/L or ALT >35 IU/L) who were prescribed a statin; cohort 2: 1437 hyperlipidemic patients with normal transaminases who were prescribed a statin; and cohort 3: 2245 patients with elevated liver enzymes but who were not prescribed a statin. The effect of statins on liver biochemistries was assessed over a 6-month period after statins were prescribed. Elevations in liver biochemistries during follow-up were categorized into mild-moderate or severe based on predefined criteria. RESULTS: The incidence of mild-moderate elevations and severe elevations in liver biochemistries in cohort 1 were 4.7% and 0.6%, respectively. Compared with cohort 1, individuals in cohort 2 had lower incidence of mild-moderate elevations (1.9%, P = 0.002) but not severe elevations (0.2%, P = 0.2). However, between cohorts 1 and 3, there were no differences in the incidence of mild-moderate elevations (4.7% vs. 6.4%, respectively, P = 0.2) or severe elevations (0.6% vs. 0.4%, respectively, P = 0.6). Statin discontinuation during the follow-up was similar between cohorts 1 and 2 (11.1% vs. 10.7%, respectively, P = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that individuals with elevated baseline liver enzymes do not have higher risk for hepatotoxicity from statins.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Assessing symptoms and peak expiratory flow rate as predictors of asthma exacerbations.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and quality of life scores for their ability to predict exacerbations of asthma. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: We identified adults who received oral or inhaled asthma medications from 36 community drugstores. We administered the McMaster Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and measured PEFR, defining "red zone" (highest risk) as a PEFR < 50% of each patient's expected value based on gender, age, and height. We identified asthma exacerbations (breathing-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations) within 4 and 12 months after enrollment and used proportional hazards regression to assess the ability of PEFR and AQLQ scores to predict exacerbations, controlling for clinical and demographic factors. RESULTS: A red zone PEFR was a significant univariable predictor of exacerbations within 12 months (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 3.0; P =.027). However, neither a red zone PEFR, the raw PEFR, or percent of predicted maximal PEFR were significantly predictive when controlling for AQLQ scores, clinical characteristics, or demographic data (P >.2). However, the 4 subscales of the AQLQ were each significant univariable and multivariable predictors of asthma exacerbations. For example, the overall AQLQ scale had a multivariable HR of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.46 to 0.87; P =.005) for exacerbations occurring within 4 months and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.54 to 0.82; P <.001) within 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: PEFR added no predictive information to that contained in AQLQ scores and clinical and demographic data. These results support the National Institutes of Health asthma guidelines' recommendation for routinely assessing symptoms but not PEFR.

Acute Disease↗