title: Limited agreement between current and long-term asthma control in children: the PACMAN cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have shown that predictors of asthma treatment outcomes differ depending on the definition of the outcome chosen. This provides evidence that different outcomes studied may reflect distinct aspects of asthma control. To assess predictors of asthma control, we need firm outcome phenotypes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between measurements of current and long-term asthma control.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 527 children using inhaled corticosteroids participating in the Pharmacogenetics of Asthma medication in Children: Medication with ANti-inflammatory effects cohort. Current asthma control (previous week) was defined using the Asthma Control Questionnaire. Long-term asthma control was based on Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. Not well-controlled asthma in a season was defined as ≥ 3 of the following items present in a season: (i) day-time or (ii) night-time symptoms, (iii) limitations in activities, and (iv) rescue medication use. Asthma control during (i) the previous season and (ii) the year preceding the pharmacy visit was used as long-term asthma control definitions. Current and long-term asthma control were compared to investigate agreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Long-term uncontrolled asthma rates were highest in autumn and winter (50%) and lowest in summer (32%) (p < 0.05). Overall agreement between current and long-term asthma control was limited (66% for previous season and 68% for previous year).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Congruence between current and long-term asthma control was limited. Furthermore, we showed significant seasonal differences. It is therefore important to calculate asthma control over a longer period of time, instead of using current asthma control as indicator.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ellen S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Koster
authors.forename: Jan A M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Raaijmakers
authors.forename: Susanne J H
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vijverberg
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koenderman
authors.forename: Dirkje S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: Gerard H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Koppelman
authors.forename: Cornelis K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: van der Ent
authors.forename: Anke-Hilse
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Maitland-van der Zee
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents