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Asthma-specific QOL scale may aid in generic QOL measures

A quality of life instrument focused specifically on asthma’s impact on the burden on quality of life in patients with asthma may aid traditional measures in determining asthma control, according to study results.

“We found that the [RAND asthma control measure (RAND-ACM)] along with the [Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Ability to Participate in Social Roles/Activities (PROMIS)] short form were most predictive of asthma-specific quality of life,” Brian D. Stucky, PhD, of the RAND Corp., and colleagues wrote. “Both of these scales include items measuring the impact of asthma on daily functioning, a finding that is consistent with the asthma control literature.”

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study on 2,032 adults with asthma using an Internet-based survey assessment asking questions related to events such as ER visits attributed to asthma in the past year as well as frequency of coughing and wheezing.

In the previous year, 39% of participants acknowledged visiting an ER or urgent care facility. Twenty eight percent reported having two medical comorbidities, and 15% reported having more than two comorbidities.

Asthma control was determined using a five-item questionnaire developed by RAND. The RAND-ACM measures frequency of asthma attacks, night awakenings due to asthma, rescue inhaler use, shortness of breath, and asthma interference on daily life.

Self-perceived severity and an ER visit in the past year were associated with a greater impact of asthma on QOL and resulted in a model accounting for 52% of variance in the impact of asthma on QOL.

“Researchers and clinicians seeking to understand the impact of asthma on individuals should utilize multiple outcome measures, including measures of both asthma control and asthma-specific quality of life,” the investigators concluded.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures. The research was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the NIH.