Lung function and asthma control in school-age children managed in UK primary care: a cohort study

<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Spirometry and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) are commonly used in specialist centres to monitor children with asthma. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends spirometry for asthma monitoring from 5 years in all heal...

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Main Authors: Lo, D, Beardsmore, C, Roland, D, Richardson, M, Yang, Y, Danvers, L, Wilson, A, Gaillard, E
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Journals 2019
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author Lo, D
Beardsmore, C
Roland, D
Richardson, M
Yang, Y
Danvers, L
Wilson, A
Gaillard, E
author_facet Lo, D
Beardsmore, C
Roland, D
Richardson, M
Yang, Y
Danvers, L
Wilson, A
Gaillard, E
author_sort Lo, D
collection OXFORD
description <p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Spirometry and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) are commonly used in specialist centres to monitor children with asthma. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends spirometry for asthma monitoring from 5 years in all healthcare settings. There is little spirometry and FeNO data in children managed for asthma in UK primary care to support their use.</p> <p><strong>OBJECTIVES:</strong> To study the prevalence of abnormal spirometry and FeNO in children with asthma managed in primary care and to explore their relationship with asthma control and unplanned healthcare attendances (UHA). METHODS:Prospective observational cohort study in children aged 5-16 years with suspected or doctor-diagnosed asthma attending an asthma review in UK general practice. Spirometry, FeNO, asthma control test (ACT) scores and number of UHAs were studied.</p> <p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Of 612 children from 10 general practices, 23.5% had abnormal spirometry, 36.0% had raised FeNO ≥35 parts per billion and 41.8% reported poor control. Fifty-four per cent of children reporting good asthma control had abnormal spirometry and/or raised FeNO. At follow-up, the mean number of UHAs fell from 0.31/child in the 6 months preceding review to 0.20/child over the 6 months following review (p=0.0004). Median ACT scores improved from 20 to 22 (p=0.032), and children's ACT from 21 to 23 (p&lt;0.0001).</p> <p><strong>CONCLUSIONS:</strong> Abnormal lung function and FeNO are common in children attending for asthma review in primary care and relate poorly to symptom scores. A symptoms-based approach to asthma monitoring without objective testing is likely to miss children at high risk of future severe asthma attacks.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:88f3f0f3-cf29-4c2c-ba15-ba74eedb83e92022-03-26T22:21:11ZLung function and asthma control in school-age children managed in UK primary care: a cohort studyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:88f3f0f3-cf29-4c2c-ba15-ba74eedb83e9EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordBMJ Journals2019Lo, DBeardsmore, CRoland, DRichardson, MYang, YDanvers, LWilson, AGaillard, E<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Spirometry and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) are commonly used in specialist centres to monitor children with asthma. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends spirometry for asthma monitoring from 5 years in all healthcare settings. There is little spirometry and FeNO data in children managed for asthma in UK primary care to support their use.</p> <p><strong>OBJECTIVES:</strong> To study the prevalence of abnormal spirometry and FeNO in children with asthma managed in primary care and to explore their relationship with asthma control and unplanned healthcare attendances (UHA). METHODS:Prospective observational cohort study in children aged 5-16 years with suspected or doctor-diagnosed asthma attending an asthma review in UK general practice. Spirometry, FeNO, asthma control test (ACT) scores and number of UHAs were studied.</p> <p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Of 612 children from 10 general practices, 23.5% had abnormal spirometry, 36.0% had raised FeNO ≥35 parts per billion and 41.8% reported poor control. Fifty-four per cent of children reporting good asthma control had abnormal spirometry and/or raised FeNO. At follow-up, the mean number of UHAs fell from 0.31/child in the 6 months preceding review to 0.20/child over the 6 months following review (p=0.0004). Median ACT scores improved from 20 to 22 (p=0.032), and children's ACT from 21 to 23 (p&lt;0.0001).</p> <p><strong>CONCLUSIONS:</strong> Abnormal lung function and FeNO are common in children attending for asthma review in primary care and relate poorly to symptom scores. A symptoms-based approach to asthma monitoring without objective testing is likely to miss children at high risk of future severe asthma attacks.</p>
spellingShingle Lo, D
Beardsmore, C
Roland, D
Richardson, M
Yang, Y
Danvers, L
Wilson, A
Gaillard, E
Lung function and asthma control in school-age children managed in UK primary care: a cohort study
title Lung function and asthma control in school-age children managed in UK primary care: a cohort study
title_full Lung function and asthma control in school-age children managed in UK primary care: a cohort study
title_fullStr Lung function and asthma control in school-age children managed in UK primary care: a cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Lung function and asthma control in school-age children managed in UK primary care: a cohort study
title_short Lung function and asthma control in school-age children managed in UK primary care: a cohort study
title_sort lung function and asthma control in school age children managed in uk primary care a cohort study
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