Validity of the Common Cold Questionnaire in Asthma Exacerbations
Author Information
Author(s): Powell Heather, Smart Joanne, Wood Lisa G., Grissell Terry, Shafren Darren R., Hensley Michael J., Gibson Peter G.
Primary Institution: Hunter Medical Research Institute, John Hunter Hospital
Hypothesis
Can the Common Cold Questionnaire (CCQ) effectively detect viral infections and monitor recovery during asthma exacerbations?
Conclusion
The CCQ is useful for monitoring recovery from viral infections in asthma but does not reliably differentiate between viral and non-viral exacerbations.
Supporting Evidence
- The CCQ had a sensitivity of 76.2% but a specificity of only 29.6%.
- 39% of subjects remained positive for the virus at follow-up despite clinical improvement.
- The CCQ showed a large response to change with an effect size of 1.01.
Takeaway
The Common Cold Questionnaire helps doctors see how well asthma patients are doing after a cold, but it can't tell if a cold is causing asthma problems.
Methodology
Participants with acute asthma were tested for viral infections using the CCQ and virological testing, with follow-ups 4-6 weeks later.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the overlap of asthma and cold symptoms affecting CCQ scores.
Limitations
The CCQ had low specificity in distinguishing between viral and non-viral asthma exacerbations.
Participant Demographics
Participants included adults and children aged 7 years and older with acute asthma.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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