Abstract
Objective: To conduct a cross-sectional regional surveillance about pediatric asthma control status using the Japanese Pediatric Asthma Control Program (JPAC) questionnaire.
Method: A total of 38 pediatric departments in general hospitals in Aichi prefecture participated in this study, which was performed in November 2008. Patients or parents who visited the hospital as a regular check up were asked to complete JPAC questionnaire. At the same time, the physician in charge judged the severity of a patient's asthma symptoms.
Results: The subjects were 535 boys and 283 girls, aged 7.0 ± 3.7 years (mean ± SD). The total JPAC scores were 15 (perfect control) in 27.5% of subjects; 12-14 (good control) in 47.1% of subjects; and ≤ 11 (loss of control) in 25.4% of subjects. Significant correlations were observed between asthma severity and JPAC scores. However, the JPAC score indicated a loss of symptom control in 44.7% of patients that physicians had diagnosed as mild-persistent and in 71.9% of patients that physicians had diagnosed as moderate-persistent. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and leukotriene receptor antagonists were administered to 52% and 77% of the patients, respectively.
Conclusion: Despite the use of ICS, JPAC scores suggest that asthma symptom control is less adequate than many physicians assess.
