Chipps BE, et al. - Data from TENOR (The Epidemiology and Natural History of Asthma Outcomes and Treatment Regimens), a 3-year observational study of patients with severe/difficult-to-treat asthma, including those aged 6 to 12 years was used to appraise real-world data on relationships between asthma exacerbations, triggers, and quality of life (QOL) in children. In these children, the association of the higher number of asthma triggers at baseline with greater asthma severity and a number of asthma exacerbations and lower QOL was observed.

Methods

• In this study, QOL was examined using the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) and defined exacerbations hierarchically (descending order of severity): hospitalization, emergency department visit, steroid burst, no exacerbation, using the highest value from months 6 and 12.
• In order to test for differences in PAQLQ domain scores at month 12 across exacerbation severity, total number of asthma exacerbations, and number of baseline asthma triggers, one-way ANOVA was used.
• The association between the number of triggers and exacerbation hierarchy was examined by using Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test.

Results

• Findings reported an association between greater severity of asthma exacerbations and (P < .001) lower mean PAQLQ domain scores, indicating poorer QOL.
• An association was highlighted between a higher number of asthma exacerbations and (P < .001) lower mean PAQLQ domain scores.
• This study found PAQLQ scores as significantly lower with higher numbers of baseline triggers.
• Evidence supported the association of higher baseline number of asthma triggers with greater severity (P = .05) and number of asthma exacerbations (P < .001).