The comparison between children and adolescents with asthma provided by the real-world "ControL'Asma" study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Respiratory Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Asthma control can vary with age, prompting investigation into differences between pediatric and adolescent populations.
• The ControL'Asma study was initiated by the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology to assess asthma control nationwide.
• Understanding age-related patterns in asthma is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that children and adolescents with asthma exhibit different control patterns.
• To compare asthma control grades and related parameters between children and adolescents in a real-world setting.
• To analyze the influence of age on asthma control and associated comorbidities.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, real-world study involving 471 asthmatic children (<12 years) and adolescents (≥12 years).
• Asthma control assessed using Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, Childhood Asthma Control Test (cACT), and Asthma Control Test (ACT).
• Evaluated rhinitis comorbidity, allergy, clinical examination, lung function, and symptom perception via visual analogue scale (VAS).

Main Results:

• No significant difference in asthma control between children and adolescents based on GINA criteria or cACT/ACT scores.
• Adolescents showed significantly higher rates of rhinitis comorbidity (p=0.02) and allergy (p=0.012) compared to children.
• Asthma severity, lung function, and symptom perception did not differ between the age groups.

Conclusions:

• Asthma control is not significantly associated with age in the studied pediatric and adolescent populations.
• Adolescents experience a higher prevalence of rhinitis and allergy, indicating a progressive allergic phenotype.
• Findings highlight the evolving nature of allergic disease in young asthma patients.