Correlations Between Pulmonary Function and Childhood Asthma Control Test Results in 5–11-year-old Children with Asthma

Abstract

We examined correlations between the two asthma assessment tools, pulmonary function tests, and Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) scores, in 5–11-year-old children with asthma to determine if the C-ACT scores could predict pulmonary function test results. Materials and methods: A total of 172 children with asthma aged 5–11 years completed C-ACT questionnaires and underwent pulmonary function testing. Correlations between these test results were examined. Patients were also placed into two groups, C-ACT scores ≤19 and >19, to determine if patients with scores >19 had better pulmonary function test results. Results: Weak correlations were found between pulmonary function test results and childhood asthma control test scores in 5–11-year-old children with asthma, with or without the use of an asthma controller. These correlations included: 0.061 for FEV1 [confidence interval (CI): −0.022–0.049] and 0.074 for MMEF (CI: −0.013–0.037). The proportions of children with C-ACT test scores ≤19 group and those with scores >19 group were not significantly different. Conclusion: Correlations between C-ACT scores and pulmonary function test results were poor for children aged 5–11 years with asthma. FEV1, FVC, FEF25, FEF50, FEF75, MMEF, and PEFR were not significantly correlated with C-ACT scores.

Keywords

• asthma
• Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT)
• forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)
• lung function test
• maximal mid-expiratory flow rate (MMEF)
• pediatric
• pulmonary function
• spirometry