Age and African-American race impact the validity and reliability of the asthma control test in persistent asthmatics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Asthma Control Test (ACT) is widely used to assess asthma control, yet the validity and reliability of the test have not been specifically evaluated in adolescents or African-Americans. We conducted a prospective psychometric study of the ACT in African-American (AA) and non-African-American (nAA) adolescents with persistent asthma, with emphasis on the clinical utility of the test for medical decision making.

Methods

Participants completed the ACT and performed spirometry. A physician conducted a guidelines-based assessment of asthma control, blinded to the ACT score. Study procedures were repeated 6-8 weeks later. The ACT-based asthma control assessment was compared to physician assessment.

Results

For baseline and follow-up visits, internal consisten

SUBMITTER: Burbank AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6094875 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature