Validation of the Pregnancy Asthma Control Test

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pulmonology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Suboptimal asthma control during pregnancy poses risks to perinatal outcomes.
• Current US guidelines recommend the Asthma Control Test (ACT) for assessing asthma control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the telephone administration of a modified Asthma Control Test (ACT) for pregnant women.
• To assess the reliability and validity of the Pregnancy Asthma Control Test (p-ACT).

Main Methods:

• 159 pregnant women with asthma were enrolled in the MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies.
• Participants completed the modified p-ACT and asthma impairment questions via telephone at multiple gestational points.
• Assessed reliability, criterion validity, construct validity, prospective validity, and responsiveness of the p-ACT.

Main Results:

• The p-ACT demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.84-0.90) across all time points.
• p-ACT scores varied significantly by asthma impairment levels and were responsive to changes in asthma course.
• Lower p-ACT scores correlated with prior asthma exacerbations, but not prospectively with future events.

Conclusions:

• Telephone administration of the p-ACT is a reliable and valid method for assessing asthma control during pregnancy.
• The p-ACT is a responsive tool that accurately reflects changes in maternal asthma status.
• Validated p-ACT supports improved monitoring of asthma control in pregnant populations.