Industry news: Quick and easy score-based asthma control test available in SA

Wednesday, 5 September 2007 – “The Asthma Control Test (ACT) is a very short, simple and extremely accurate questionnaire that will tell you exactly what your asthma score is and whether or not it is under control,” says Prof Elvis Irusen, President-elect of the SA Thoracic Society (SATS). “Asthma sufferers can determine how well they are doing by simply answering five questions.”

We have tests that tell us exactly what our Blood Pressure or Cholesterol levels are and therefore we know how much medicinal intervention or dietary management is necessary. However, there has not been an easy and accurate test of asthma control – until now.

Prof Irusen explains that traditional methods of assessing asthma control focus predominantly on physical tests such as peak flow readings, but these only reflect a single component of asthma control. ACT has been developed as a quick and reliable test to measure different aspects of asthma control, based on the guidelines in the Global Initiative for Asthma.

“GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) endorses ACT as it is an effective, validated and independent method of assessing asthma control in clinical practice,” he says.

The Asthma Insights and Reality surveys (large-scale global surveys involving nearly 8 000 asthma patients across 29 countries) have shown that asthma control is consistently poor throughout the world and falls far short of guideline-derived goals of asthma management. “Patients get accustomed to putting up with symptoms that they are willing to accept them as part of everyday life and don't expect treatment to make a difference,” says Prof Irusen. “This can mean that their asthma goes on being under treated indefinitely, which can lead to reduced quality of life, absence from work and school and a massive burden on healthcare resources. Sadly it could also even lead to unexpected death.”

ACT is a test that patients themselves can administer. It consists of five questions each scored on a five-point rating scale, to give a total score between five and 25. A score of 19 or less indicates that asthma may not be well controlled and a score of 20 or more indicates that asthma is under control. A maximum score of 25 indicates Total Asthma Control.

“Because ACT was designed to be used by patients, it doesn't even need to be completed during clinical consultations,” says Prof Irusen. “Patients can calculate their own ACT scores at home, allowing them to take ownership of their asthma control. This can form the basis of a discussion with their physician.”

“We want all asthma sufferers to know that Total Asthma Control is possible. With ACT they have a score to aspire to, just like with other chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes or hyperlipidaemia, where patients ‘know their number' and know what they are aiming for,” concludes Prof Irusen.

ACT is available via doctors' practices nationwide in two separate tests: one for adults and another for children under the age of twelve.

For more information including ordering more ACT supplies please contact GSK Customer Services on 0800 11 8274.