title: Validity of the common cold questionnaire (CCQ) in asthma exacerbations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The common cold questionnaire (CCQ) is used to discriminate those with and without a viral infection. Its usefulness in people with acute asthma is unknown. Our aim was to assess the ability of the CCQ to detect viral infection and to monitor recovery during a viral induced asthma exacerbation and confirmed by virological testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied subjects (> or =7 yrs) admitted to hospital with acute asthma and diagnosed as positive (n = 63), or negative to viral infection (n = 27) according to molecular and virological testing from respiratory samples. CCQ, asthma history and asthma control questionnaires were completed and repeated 4-6 weeks later. Sensitivity, specificity, and response to change of the CCQ were assessed by receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis and effect size calculation respectively. The CCQ did not discriminate between viral and non-viral infection for subjects with asthma (sensitivity = 76.2%; specificity = 29.6%). ROC analysis could not differentiate between positive or negative virus in subjects with asthma. The CCQ had a large response to change following recovery (effect size = 1.01). 39% of subjects recovering from viral exacerbation remained positive to virological testing at follow-up despite improvement in clinical symptoms. The CCQ reflected clinical improvement in these subjects, thus providing additional information to complement virological testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CCQ is a useful instrument for monitoring response to viral infection in people with asthma. Reliable differentiation between viral and non-viral asthma exacerbations was not achieved with the CCQ and requires specific virological testing. When combined with virological testing, the CCQ should be a useful outcome measure for evaluating therapies in viral-induced asthma.
authors: Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Hunter Medical Research Institute, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Powell
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Smart
authors: Lisa G
authors: LG
authors: Wood
authors: Terry
authors: T
authors: Grissell
authors: Darren R
authors: DR
authors: Shafren
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Hensley
authors: Peter G
authors: PG
authors: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003139:Common Cold / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D013048:Specimen Handling; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires