European Respiratory Journal | 2019
Markers of asthma control - Cross-sectional data from a study in Telemark, Norway
Abstract
Introduction: Studies have suggested that markers may be useful to achieve better control and monitoring of patients with poorly controlled asthma. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between lung function and inflammatory markers, and its correlation with asthma control assessed by the asthma control test (ACT) Methods: In 2014/15, a cross-sectional clinical study was conducted including 663 subjects with physician-diagnosed asthma recruited from a general population study (n=16099). Of these, 299 reported respiratory symptoms in the last 12 months, filled in the ACT, performed spirometry and had blood samples taken. Associations between lung function, inflammatory markers and asthma control were analyzed using t-test, Mann-Whitney and adjusted regression analysis. Results: Regression, adjusting for age, gender, education and smoking, showed that FVC (β=-4.1, 95%CI (-7.2,-1.1)), FEV1 (β=-5.3,(-9.0,-1.6)), and periostin (β=-2.8*104(-4.4*104,-1.3*104)) was significantly reduced, while leucocytes (β=0.65 (0.17,1.13)) was significantly increased among poorly controlled asthma patients compared to well-controlled. After regression analysis, FeNO and CRP were no longer significant. Conclusion: In this study, poor asthma control was associated with reduced lung function and serum periostin, and increased leucocytes. This suggests that these markers may be useful when assessing asthma control.