The Asthma Control Test (ACT) as an alternative tool to  Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guideline criteria for  assessing asthma control in Vietnamese outpatients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the reliability and validity of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) to detect Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)-defined  uncontrolled or partly controlled asthma, and to determine the agreement between ACT and GINA in classifying asthma control among  Vietnamese patients.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed in 323 of 360 invited outpatients with asthma in Ho Chi Minh City to compare the ACT  and GINA classification for asthma control.


RESULTS
Internal consistency of the ACT (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.83. The kappa coefficient of 0.55, based on the ternary split, represents  moderate agreement between the two rating systems with a correctly classified rate of 75%. The area under the receiver operating  characteristics curve for the ACT score predicting GINA control was 0.85. To detect GINA-defined 'not controlled asthma', the ACT had a  sensitivity of 70%, specificity of 93%, and a positive predictive value of 89%, with a cut-off point of 19. The validity of the ACT with  regard to agreement with the GINA classification was consistent across both sexes, but less so in adolescents or younger adults. The ACT  score was significantly correlated with the percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (r=0.35, p<0.001) and percentage  predicted peak expiratory flow (r=0.26, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The Vietnamese ACT is useful for identifying outpatients with GINA-defined uncontrolled or partly controlled asthma.
Family Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. bsvinhnguyen@yahoo.com
Vinh Nhu
VN
Nguyen
Niels
N
Chavannes
Lan Thi Tuyet
LT
Le
David
D
Price
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam