RELATION OF THE TIME COURSE OF JAPANESE PEDIATRIC ASTHMA CONTROL TEST (JPAC) AND CHILDHOOD ASTHMA CONTROL TEST (C-ACT) SCORE WITH RESPIRATORY FUNCTION AND FRACTIONAL EXHALED NITRIC OXIDE (FE_<NO>)

Abstract

Background and object: Two major convenient questionnaires of asthma control in childhood, Japanese Pediatric Asthma Control Program (JPAC) and Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) have been available in Japan. The aim of this study is to evaluate relationship of two questionnaires in terms of the changes of respiratory function and fractional nitric oxide (FE_<NO>) in each individual. Subject and methods: The 102 samples from patients with asthma aged 6 to 11 years old and their parents' answers for the two questionnaires at regular visits were collected. At the same time, respiratory functions and FE_<NO> were measured. The correlations of each difference of scores (±JPAC or ±C-ACT), correlations of ±JPAC or ±C-ACT and increased ratio of respiratory functions and FE_<NO> (ΔFE_<NO>%) were examined. We analyzed the factors that influences on respiratory functions and FE_<NO>. Moreover, the correlations of increased ratio of respiratory functions and ΔFE_<NO>% were examined. Results: Changes of JPAC and C-ACT correlated with each other. (ρ=0.725, p<0.0001) ΔFE_<NO>% was influenced by medications, especially ICS. ±JPAC weakly correlated with ΔFEV_1% and ΔFEF_<25-75>% and ΔPEF%, so did C-ACT. ±JPAC correlated most strongly with the change of ΔFEF_<25-75>% among the parameters of respiratory functions. (ρ=0.357, p=0.0003) ±JPAC, but not ±C-ACT weakly correlated with ΔFE_<NO>%. (ρ=-0.2045, p=0.0401) Conclusion: JPAC and C-ACT reflect the change of the respiratory function of each patient rather than those at random visit. Furthermore, JPAC may reflect FE_<NO>. In conclusion, recognition of the changes of the scores of these questionnaires may increase the utilities of the same scores obtained at a single visit. It is needed further study how to use FE_<NO> added on these questionnaires.