AIRQ 3-Month Differentiates Asthma Control Similarly to 12-Month Version

The 3-month Asthma Impairment and Risk Questionnaire (AIRQ™) demonstrated a similar ability to differentiate asthma control as the 12-month AIRQ, according to research presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, held virtually from November 13 to 15.

The AIRQ is a 10-item, yes/no control tool that has been cross-sectionally validated in 442 patients aged 12 years and older who are part of a larger longitudinal study. Compared with the Asthma Control Test (ACT™), cut points of fewer than 2 yes responses demonstrate a sensitivity of 0.90 to identify well controlled asthma and 5 or more yes responses demonstrate a specificity of 0.96 to identify very poorly controlled asthma.

Researchers of the current study evaluated a 3-month AIRQ that used the same impairment and risk items but with 3-month exacerbation questions to assess whether repetitive use over shorter time periods, rather than yearly, was feasible.

AIRQ at baseline and 3-month AIRQ at 3 and 6 months were assessed in 1106 patients against ACT exacerbations (prior year chart-documented and monthly self-reported over months 1-3 and 4-6). Construct validity was analyzed by proportion of well, not well, and very poorly controlled asthma in patients having at least 2 exacerbations. Approximately 70.1% of the patients were women, and the mean age was 43 years.

Baseline AIRQ and 3-month AIRQ at 3 and 6 months showed 78.2% (baseline prior year), 84.1% (months 1-3), and 86.5% (months 4-6) of the patients with well controlled asthma as well controlled according to the ACT exacerbations standard. Furthermore, 56.7% (baseline prior year), 73.5% (months 1-3), and 70.6% (months 4-6) of patients with very poorly controlled asthma scores were in the comparable ACT exacerbations group.

As each control category worsened, the proportion of patients having at least 2 exacerbations increased (baseline prior year, 5.4%, 24.0%, 40.9%; month 3 prior 3 months: 2.8%, 12.1%, and 25.3%; month 6 prior 3 months: 2.2%, 13.3%, 28.2%; P <.001).

The study authors concluded that the 3-month AIRQ had a similar ability to determine levels of asthma control as the 12-month version, providing a tool for repeated assessments.

Reference

Chipps B, Murphy K, Wise R, et al. Evaluating performance of the Asthma Impairment and Risk Questionnaire (AIRQ™) at 3-month intervals. Presented at: the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting (Virtual Experience); November 13-15, 2020. Abstract P223.