Asthma Control in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Malaysia: A Cross-sectional Study
- Author:
Kuan YC
;
How SH
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Bronchial asthma, level of control, Asthma Control Test
- From:
The International Medical Journal Malaysia
2015;14(2):41-44
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Various initiatives and medications have been introduced to achieve better control of bronchial
asthma. However total control according to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) remains elusive even at tertiary
referral hospitals. Our study is to determine the level of asthma control (according to GINA 2009), Asthma
Control Test (ACT) scores and the types of medications used among patients with bronchial asthma in a large
tertiary hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study of all patients with bronchial asthma who attended the Chest
Clinic at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) from 2009 to 2011. Patient demographics, self-administered ACT
scores, GINA-defined level of asthma control and medications were documented. Results: 208 patients were
recruited. There were 23.2%, 46.3% and 30.5% of patients with controlled, partly controlled and uncontrolled
asthma respectively. The median ACT scores was 19 [inter quartile range (IQR) 6]. The most frequently used
preventer therapy was inhaled long-acting β-agonist/corticosteroids (LABA/ICS) fixed-dose combination (61.7%),
and 9.6% were not on preventer therapy. 75% of patients with controlled asthma were on LABA/ICS compared
to 58.5% of the partly controlled and uncontrolled groups (p=0.039). Conclusion: The majority of the asthmatic
patients attending the Chest Clinic at HTAA did not have GINA-defined controlled asthma. Patients with higher
ACT scores had better control of asthma. There were more patients with controlled asthma who were on LABA/
ICS combination.
