The Asthma Control Test, Japanese version (ACT-J) as a predictor of Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guideline-defined asthma control: analysis of a questionnaire-based survey

The Efficacy and Safety of First-Line Single-Inhaler Triple versus Dual Therapy in Controller-Naïve and Symptomatic Adults with Asthma: A Preliminary Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose

The efficacy and safety of first-line triple and dual therapy remain unclear because the stepwise strategy is a worldwide standard in controller-naïve asthma. A preliminary retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of first-line triple and dual therapy for managing controller-naïve and symptomatic adult patients with asthma.

Patients and Methods

Patients with asthma who received first-line single-inhaler triple therapy (SITT) or dual therapy (SIDT) for at least 8 weeks were selected between December 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, in Fujiki Medical and Surgical Clinic, Miyazaki, Japan. Data on daytime and nighttime visual analog scale (VAS) scores, lung function tests, fractional exhaled nitrogen oxide (F_ENO), and adverse events were compared between SITT and SIDT pre- and post-treatment.

Results

The SITT significantly improved the nighttime, but not daytime, VAS scores better than the SIDT 2 weeks post-treatment (P = 0.0026), whereas SITT and SIDT significantly improved daytime and nighttime VAS scores after treatment compared to baseline. Both therapies also significantly improved lung functions and F_ENO post-treatment. The proportion of patients achieving complete control in the nighttime VAS scores after SITT was significantly higher than that four (P = 0.0186) and 8 weeks (P = 0.0061) after SIDT. Only patients with SITT experienced dry mouth.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that first-line SITT and SIDT were effective, and SITT improved disease control faster than SIDT in controller-naïve and symptomatic adult patients with asthma. The first-line SITT may contribute to faster and better control levels in symptomatic patients with asthma.

Sanfu herbal patch applied at acupoints in patients with bronchial asthma: statistical analysis plan for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Sanfu herbal patch (SHP) is widely used in the prevention and treatment of bronchial asthma in China, but its efficacy and mechanism of action are not completely clear. This trial aims to determine the efficacy of SHP and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS/DESIGN

We will conduct a multi-centre parallel randomised controlled trial consisting of 72 participants with bronchial asthma recruited and randomly allocated at a ratio of 1:1 into two groups. The patients in one group will receive three courses of SHP treatment, and the patients in the other group will receive placebo treatment, with 24 weeks of follow-up evaluation for both groups. The primary outcome, i.e. forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), which refers to the change in FEV1 from the beginning of the baseline to the end of 3 treatment sessions (TSs), will be assessed and compared via Student's t test or the Mann-Whitney U test. Other outcomes will include questionnaire surveys and laboratory indicators. Detailed and complete statistical analyses in a double-blinded fashion will be provided for evaluating this trial.

DISCUSSION

The data we obtain will be examined based on the above statistical analysis, which will help to reduce the risk of external reporting bias and data-driven results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn ), ChiCTR1900024616. Registered on 19 July 2019.

Daytime and Nighttime Visual Analog Scales May Be Useful in Assessing Asthma Control Levels Before and After Treatment

PURPOSE

Few questionnaires evaluate daytime and nighttime symptoms separately, although these assessments could contribute to the improvement of disease control levels and prevention of future risks in asthma. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate whether daytime and nighttime visual analog scales (VAS) are useful in measuring the perception of symptoms, assessing disease control levels, and evaluating the treatment effects in asthma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Self-reporting asthma control tests (ACT) before and after treatment are standardized tests used to determine disease control levels. A multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the correlation between daytime and nighttime VAS and the characteristics of patients before treatment, as well as the changes in VAS and lung functions and fractional exhaled nitrogen oxide after treatment in 55 treatment-naïve symptomatic adult patients with asthma.

RESULTS

Both daytime (r = -0.57, P < 0.0001) and nighttime (r = -0.46, P < 0.0001) VAS correlated well with ACT scores, and there was a correlation between daytime and nighttime VAS (r = 0.33, P = 0.0148) before treatment. In addition, the changes in daytime (r = -0.65, P < 0.0001) and nighttime (r = -0.44, P < 0.0001) VAS were significantly associated with changes in the ACT scores. The multiple regression analysis (β [95% confidence interval]) revealed that improvements in the daytime (-2.33 [-4.55 to -0.11], P = 0.0405) and nighttime (-3.09 [-6.25 to 0.07], P = 0.0505) VAS were associated with an increased forced vital capacity after treatment, although there was no correlation between the VAS and characteristics before treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that daytime and nighttime VAS were useful in assessing disease control levels and evaluating the treatment effects in asthma.

Sanfu herbal patch applied at acupoints in patients with bronchial asthma: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Bronchial asthma is one of the most common inflammatory airway disorders. As one of the main non-drug therapies, the Sanfu herbal patch (SHP) has been widely used to treat bronchial asthma, although the evidence for its efficacy and associated mechanism are inconclusive. The objective of this trial is to clarify the clinical efficacy and safety of the SHP in the treatment of bronchial asthma in the chronic persistent or clinical remission stage and to provide high-quality data for further research.

Methods

We propose a multicentre, double-blinded, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 4 study hospitals in China. A total of 72 eligible participants will be randomized into an SHP group and a placebo group. They will receive an SHP for 3 treatment sessions. The primary outcome will be changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s after 3 treatment sessions. Secondary outcomes will include the following: (1) the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, Asthma Control Test, and Asthma Long-term Follow-up Scale; (2) levels of Metallothionein-2 and Transgelin-2 in blood and urine; and (3) levels of IL-5, IL-13, IL-23, IL-25, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin in blood. Analysis of the data will be performed at baseline, at the end of the 2nd and 3rd treatment sessions, and at the 24-week follow-up. The safety of the SHP will be evaluated at each treatment session.

Discussion

The aims of this trial are to determine whether the SHP is more effective than placebo in the treatment of patients with bronchial asthma, as well as whether the SHP works by reducing airway inflammation and reversing bronchoconstriction.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn), ChiCTR1900024616. Registered on 19 July 2019.

Influence of Adherence to Inhaled Corticosteroids and Inhaler Handling Errors on Asthma Control in a Japanese Population

Objective High adherence to medications and accurate handling of inhaler devices are important for asthma management. However, few reports to date have simultaneously evaluated adherence and handling errors. We therefore investigated the adherence to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and inhaler handling errors in the same patients in cooperation with pharmacists. Methods Data were derived from a survey of physicians and pharmacists treating asthma patients who visited participating hospitals and pharmacies from July 2012 to January 2013. The patients were evaluated for asthma control using the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and for inhaler handling errors using checklists. ICS adherence was evaluated based on pharmaceutical records. Results Adherence among participants (n=290) was 33.3% (mean), and the percentage of inhaler handling errors was 20.0% (mean). Total inhalation times in the high-adherence group were fewer than those in the low-adherence group. In a comparison by device, adherence to pressurized metered dose inhalers was significantly lower than that to Diskus® inhalers, presumably attributable to the total number of inhalations per day. Adherence, handling errors, and total number of inhalations per day were significantly different between the asthma-controlled group and the uncontrolled group. A multivariate analysis showed that adherence and handling errors were independent factors contributing to asthma control. Conclusion Our data indicated that both adherence to ICS and device handling errors contributed to asthma control in this population.

Depression's influence on the Asthma Control Test, Japanese version

BACKGROUND

Depression has been linked to poorer asthma control in asthmatic patients. Although the Japanese version of the Asthma Control Test (ACT-J) is frequently used as a simple, practical evaluation tool in clinical care settings in Japan, knowledge regarding its efficacy for assessing asthma control in asthmatic patients with depression is limited. Thus, we retrospectively investigated cut-off values of the ACT-J for well-controlled asthma, and explored depression's influence on the test with a questionnaire survey.

METHODS

Data were analyzed on 1,962 adult asthmatic patients who had completed both the ACT-J and the Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (J-PHQ-9) in 2008 questionnaire survey conducted by the Niigata Asthma Treatment Study Group. Patients were classified into low (LD: J-PHQ-9 score of 0-4) or high depression (HD: J-PHQ-9 score of 5-27) groups. In both groups, the efficacy of the ACT-J was confirmed. We then compared the optimal cut-off points for uncontrolled asthma in both groups by performing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, using the original classification referred to the GINA classification as the "true" classification.

RESULTS

Cronbach's alpha in the LD and HD group was 0.808 and 0.740 respectively. In both groups, the sub-group with existence of work absenteeism or frequent attacks during the previous 12 months scored lower on the ACT-J. The area under the curve and optimal cut-off point for patients with LD and HD were 0.821 and 0.846, and 23 and 20 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of the ACT-J was confirmed in depressive patients with asthma. Because asthma control as evaluated with the ACT-J can be worse than actual control under depressive states, physicians should also pay attention to a patient's depressive state at evaluation. Further investigations focus on the association between the ACT-J and depression are required.