Pediatric asthma control in Asia: phase 2 of the Asthma Insights and Reality in Asia-Pacific (AIRIAP 2) survey

We conducted Phase 2 of the Asthma Insights and Reality in the Asia-Pacific (AIRIAP 2) survey in 2006 to determine the level of asthma control in this region and the validity of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and childhood ACT (C-ACT) in relation to asthma control.

Pediatric participants (0 to <16 years; N = 988) with diagnosed asthma and current asthma symptoms or taking anti-asthma medications were recruited from 12 geographic areas in Asia. The survey consisted of the AIRIAP 2 questionnaire (asthma symptoms, use of urgent healthcare services and anti-asthma medication) and the ACT or C-ACT (English or Chinese translations only), both administered in the participant's preferred language. A symptom control index based on the Global Initiative for Asthma criteria (except lung function) was used to classify asthma control status.

Most participants had inadequately controlled asthma ('uncontrolled' = 53.4%, 528/988; 'partly controlled' = 44.0%, 435/988). Only 2.5% (25/988) had 'controlled' asthma. Demand for urgent healthcare services (51.7%, 511/988) and use of short-acting beta-agonists (55.2%, 545/988) was high. The optimal ACT and C-ACT cutoff score for detecting uncontrolled asthma (compared with controlled or partly controlled asthma) was determined to be ≤19 (receiver operating characteristic analysis) with good agreement between the ACT and C-ACT and the symptom control index.

Findings from this survey show that asthma control is suboptimal in many children in the Asia-Pacific region. Practical tools, such as the ACT or C-ACT, may help clinicians assess asthma control and facilitate adjustment of asthma medication.