Caregiver-Reported Asthma Control Predicts Future Visits, Independent of Guideline-Based Control Measures

• Published in: The journal of allergy and clinical immunology in practice (Cambridge, MA) Vol. 7; no. 5; p. 1516
• Main Authors: Kochis, Suzanne R, Grant, Torie, Phipatanakul, Wanda, Perzanowski, Matthew, Balcer-Whaley, Susan, Curtin-Brosnan, Jean, Newman, Michelle, Cunningham, Amparito, Bollinger, Mary E, Matsui, Elizabeth C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; Ambulatory Care - statistics & numerical data; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - physiopathology; Baltimore; Black or African American; Bronchodilator Agents - therapeutic use; Caregivers; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Progression; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Female; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Insurance, Health; Male; Minority Groups; Poverty; Severity of Illness Index; Baltimore; Asthma control; NAEPP guidelines; Childhood asthma
• ISSN: 2213-2201
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2018.12.030

It is unknown whether caregiver perception of a child's asthma control, independent of guideline-based asthma control assessment, is a predictor of future acute visits. To determine whether caregiver-reported asthma control is an indicator of future risk of acute visit. Two study populations of low-income, minority 5- to 17-year-old children with persistent asthma were included. Questionnaires administered at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months captured symptoms, short-acting β-agonist use, acute visits in the previous 3 months, and caregiver-reported asthma control. Well-controlled, not well-controlled, and very poorly controlled asthma were defined using National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guideline-based assessment. Relationships between caregiver-reported control and acute visits in the subsequent 3 months were examined. At baseline, both populations were predominantly black/African American (91% and 79%) with public insurance (85% and 88%) and very poorly controlled asthma (47% and 50%). In both populations, most caregivers reported that their child's asthma was well controlled (73% and 69%). In both populations, participants whose caregivers reported that their child had uncontrolled asthma had greater odds of having an acute visit in the following 3 months as compared with participants whose caregivers reported that their child's asthma was well controlled, independent of guideline-based control, age, sex, race, controller medication, insurance, and atopy (odds ratio [95% CI], 2.4 [1.4-4.2] and 1.6 [1.1-2.4]). Among predominantly low-income minority children with asthma, caregiver-reported asthma control may provide information about the risk of future acute visit for asthma that is complementary to guideline-based control assessment.