Optimal Self-Management Of Asthma By Forced Oscillation Technique: a Randomised Controlled Trial
Self-management strategies for asthma, including patients engagement and adherence to personalised action plans with advice on recognizing and responding to deterioration in control with effective treatments can improve asthma outcomes and possibly reduce the risk of future exacerbations. However, the real-life evidence is that asthma control remains sub-optimal in the majority of cases, thus increasing the related socio-economic costs worldwide. Because an increased variability of lung function remains a hallmark of poor asthma control and exacerbations, its assessment over time could contribute to the success of self-management plans. Previous studies have shown the potential of Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) as a tool for monitoring increased variability of airway obstruction and for identifying the onset of acute deterioration of airway function. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that a personalised self-management plan including FOT improves asthma control and reduces number of days with increased symptoms compared to conventional asthma treatment.
• Age: 6-65 years old
• Diagnosis of persistent asthma
• Treatment level at study entry:
‣ For children 6-11 years: Step2 or Step3 of the GINA document
⁃ For adolescents and adults 12-65 years: Step2 under daily low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), Step 3 or Step 4 of the GINA document
• Uncontrolled asthma (ACQ-5 \> 1.5) that, according to the physician, does not warrant an immediate step-up of the treatment
• History of moderate or severe exacerbations in the twelve (12) months prior to baseline visit