Predicting the Diagnosis of Asthma

NCT00620334 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: COLES
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Despite the development of effective medications for treatment, asthma remains a significant contributor of morbidity, mortality, and financial hardship to patients with the disease. An estimated 300 million people worldwide have asthma, making it one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Asthma accounts for 250,000 deaths per year worldwide, and 1.7 million emergency room visits per year in the United States. Cost of asthma in the United States was an estimated $12.7 billion dollars per year in 1998, and the prevalence is increasing. In 2002, there were 13.9 million outpatient asthma visits to private physician offices and hospital outpatient departments, and 484,000 asthma hospitalizations. Children 5-17 years of age missed 14.7 million school days, and adults missed 11.8 million work days due to asthma in 2002. There is no single diagnostic test or symptom that defines asthma. Asthma is a syndrome consisting of a constellation of symptoms that include wheeze, cough, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. The diagnosis of asthma takes into account history, physical examination findings, and objective measures of pulmonary function and markers of inflammation. In many cases the diagnosis is not in question, allowing for early recognition and appropriate treatment. In other cases, confounding factors makes the diagnosis both challenging and time consuming for the physician and the patient. According to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 2, asthma is defined as: "a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role, in particular, mast cells, eosinophils, T lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and epithelial cells. In susceptible individuals, this inflammation causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning. These episodes are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment. The inflammation also causes an associated increase in the existing bronchial hyperresponsiveness to a variety of stimuli." Airway obstruction and reversibility is measured by pulmonary function testing before and after inhalation of a short acting beta agonist. Airway hyperresponsiveness is measured by methacholine challenge. Estimates of asthma prevalence are generated by the use of written questionnaires in epidemiologic studies. , One of the difficulties with reliance on questionnaires is that patients often misinterpret the questions or fail to answer the question altogether. In this study, a physician will review the questionnaire with the patient in order to clarify each question. The goal in this study is to evaluate a simplified set of questions that can be easily implemented into clinical practice that will predict the presence or absence of asthma. Hypothesis A simplified questionnaire will predict asthma in adults. Study Objectives § Primary Objective o To evaluate the predictive value of a questionnaire designed to diagnose asthma in adults

Conditions

Asthma

Keywords

ASTHMA

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• To evaluate the predictive value of a questionnaire designed to diagnose asthma in adults.

  UP TO 2 WEEKS

Study Arms (2)

1

ASTHMA: PREVOUSLY DIAGNOSED MILD ASTHMA PATIENTS

2

CONTROL: PATIENTS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ASTHMA

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 64 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male or female Females are eligible to participate only if they are currently non-pregnant and non-lactating. All premenopausal women will undergo a urine pregnancy test at the beginning of the study. Female subjects should not be enrolled if they plan to become pregnant during the time of the study.

You may qualify if:

• years of age at enrollment
• Literacy: The subject must be able to read, comprehend, and record information in English.
• Consent: The subject must have the ability to give informed consent.
• Type of subject: The subject must be seen in the outpatient setting.

You may not qualify if:

• Respiratory Instability: Hospitalization for respiratory disease within the last 6 months during study period and prior to Visit 0.
• Respiratory Disease: Current diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, pneumothorax, atelectasis, pulmonary fibrotic disease, chronic bronchitis, or any other lower respiratory abnormalities other than asthma.
• Prior Treatment of Asthma: Treatment for asthma with any medication (except for short acting inhaled bronchodilators) for 12 months or more prior to Visit 0
• Drug Allergy: Any immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reaction to any beta2-agonist or sympathomimetic drug
• Respiratory Tract Infections: Confirmed or suspected infection of the sinus, middle ear, oropharynx, upper respiratory tract, or lower respiratory tract within 28 days prior to testing
• Concomitant Medications:
• Beta blockers
• Systemic corticosteroids
• Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (Note: Immunotherapy for the treatment of allergies is allowed, provided that the subject has received a constant dose for 30 days prior to Visit 0, and that the same dose will continue throughout the study.)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of South Florida: lead

Study Sites (1)

USF

Tampa, Florida, 33613, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Asthma

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bronchial Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Immune System Diseases

Study Officials

• RICHARD F LOCKEY, MD

  University of South Florida

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2008
• First Posted: February 21, 2008
• Study Start: February 1, 2007
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2008
• Study Completion: June 1, 2008
• Last Updated: August 10, 2010

Record last verified: 2008-07

Locations

US (1)