The Evaluation of Asthma Control and its Predictors in Patients Attending a Tertiary Clinic in Lagos, Nigeria. https://doi.org/10.60787/NMJ-63-2-99

Abstract

Background: There is a high rate of poorly controlled asthma in Nigeria. Determining the level of asthma control and associated factors in asthma patients attending clinics is important to identify those at risk of exacerbations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the level of asthma control of patients attending a respiratory clinic in Lagos using the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and pre-forced expiratory volume in the first second (PREFEV1).

Method: The ACT questionnaire and PREFEV1 were used to assess patients' asthma control at a tertiary pulmonary clinic in Lagos.

Results: The participants comprised 96 (48.0%) females and 104 (52.0%) males with a mean and standard deviation (SD) of 40.57± 15.86 years. The mean score with the standard deviation of the ACT score was 18.64 +4.64. Half of the participants had good asthma control (>20) based on the ACT score. The mean pre-FEV1 was 2.14 +0.93 for 200 participants, and the post-FEV1 of 189 was 2.25+ 0.91. Only76 (37.5%) of the participants had normal FEV1. About one-third of the participants, 60(30%), had an obstructive ventilatory pattern, 9(5%) had a restrictive ventilatory pattern, 73(37%) had a mixed ventilator pattern, and 58(29%) had a normal ventilatory pattern. Allergic rhinitis was reported in 99 (49.5%), and the likelihood of GERD in 63 (31.5%). There was a significant positive relationship between the ACT and FEV1 and a significant negative relationship between the GSAS score and ACT (p= <0.0001 and p= <0.0001, respectively).

Conclusion: The level of asthma control using the ACT questionnaire was average among asthma patients attending the clinic. However, the use of pre-FEV1, which is an objective tool for assessing asthma control, was significantly lower among these patients. Lung function tests should be employed in respiratory clinics for objective assessment of patients’ asthma control.