Development of a tool to recognize small airways dysfunction in asthma (SADT)

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Asthma Research
• Diagnostic Tool Development

Background:

• Small airways dysfunction (SAD) significantly impacts asthma expression and patient well-being.
• Accurate identification of SAD is essential for implementing targeted and effective asthma therapies.
• Current diagnostic methods may not fully capture the patient experience of SAD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To initiate the development of a straightforward Small Airways Dysfunction Tool (SADT).
• The SADT aims to assist clinicians in identifying asthma patients experiencing SAD.
• This research focuses on the initial phase of tool creation.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving in-depth interviews and focus groups with asthma patients.
• Patients were categorized based on the presence or absence of SAD, determined by spirometry (FEF50%) and impulse oscillometry (R5-R20).
• Exploration of perceived differences in symptoms, habits, and health-related issues between patient groups.

Main Results:

• Patients with SAD reported distinct symptoms, including increased wheezing, difficulty breathing deeply, and pronounced exercise-induced and allergic respiratory symptoms.
• Significant differences were noted in symptom perception, daily habits, and overall health concerns between asthma patients with and without SAD.
• A preliminary list of 63 items was generated for further evaluation in the SADT.

Conclusions:

• The initial development phase confirms significant differences in signs and symptoms between asthma patients with and without SAD.
• The next step involves rigorous testing and validation of the identified items.
• The ultimate goal is to create a concise and practical SADT for clinical use in identifying asthma patients with SAD.