title: Relationship between exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) and asthma control test (ACT) in asthmatic children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the relationship between Asthma Control Test™ (ACT) and exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) in 81 asthmatic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  EIB was assessed in every patient by Balke protocol and asthma control was evaluated by ACT. Patients were divided into three groups: Group A (30 patients) with complete asthma control (ACT score = 25), Group B (37 patients) with partial asthma control (ACT score = 21-24), and Group C (14 patients) with poor asthma control (ACT score < 20).
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 36% (11/30) of patients in Group A (with complete asthma control) tested positive for EIB, whereas 21% (8/37) in Group B (with partial asthma control) and 28% (4/14) in Group C (with poor asthma control) exhibited EIB. The percentage of positive EIB was very similar between the three groups with no differences between controlled, partially controlled, and uncontrolled asthma. Statistical evaluation by χ(2)-test between complete (ACT score = 25) and not complete asthma control (ACT score < 24) confirmed a statistically significant difference (p < .01) between the obtained data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It must be stated that ACT alone is not sufficient to evaluate asthma control in children correctly because it fails to detect EIB in a significant percentage of subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. dr.daniele.r@hotmail.it
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rapino
authors.forename: Nicola Pietro
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Consilvio
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pietroconsilvio
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scaparrotta
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cingolani
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attanasi
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Pillo
authors.forename: Sabrina Di
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pillo
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008450:Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014797:Vital Capacity