Abstract

PEREIRA, Ana; MARTINS, Carla  and  FONSECA, João. Use of CARAT and lung function tests to assess control of asthma and rhinitis. Rev Port Imunoalergologia [online]. 2013, vol.21, n.2, pp.103-115. ISSN 0871-9721.

Background:Standardized questionnaires and lung function are essential tools in the evaluation of patients with asthma and/or rhinitis. Objectives: 1) to describe lung function parameters and results of CARAT in a consecutive series of asthma and/or rhinitis cases; 2) to study, in these patients, the correlation between lung function tests and CARAT results. Methods: Descriptive, retrospective study, including all the adults that performed spirometry with bronchodilation (BD) test between February 2011 and July 2012 in the Immunoallergy Department of a university hospital; individuals were asked to complete CARAT. Spirometry and exhaled fraction of nitric oxide (eNO) were performed according to the ERS/ATS recommendations. Control of asthma and rhinitis was defined by CARAT total score (CARAT (T)) ≥24; upper airways (S) control if CARAT (S) > 8; lower airways (I) control if CARAT (I) >15. Results: Overall, 1200 individuals were included, with mean age (standard deviation) 39.3 (14.6) years; 49% has asthma and rhinitis (AR) diagnosis, 13% asthma alone and 13% rhinitis alone. The median (interquartil variation) of eNO has higher in those with AR, when comparing with individuals with asthma or rhinitis alone. The prevalence of poor control was higher than 75% in all the diagnosis groups; 60% of those with asthma alone presented poor control of upper airways symptoms. Correlation between CARAT (I) and %FEV1 was weak when considering all the participants (correlation coefficient (CC)=0.174); the highest CC was found in those with recent exacerbation (CC=0.359). Conclusions: Most of the patients presented low scores in CARAT. A high proportion of individuals with asthma alone presented low CARAT (S) scores, suggesting underdiagnosis of rhinitis. Individuals with recent exacerbations presented the highest correlation between CARAT scores and %FEV1.

Keywords : Asthma; eNO; questionnaire; rhinitis; spirometry.

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