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We mailed a survey to a sample of adults with persistent asthma to assess gender differences in asthma management and quality of life. Women were more likely to regularly use a peak flow meter, have a regular clinician for their asthma care, and to have a written asthma management plan. No gender differences in self-reported asthma severity were observed, and men and women ranked their knowledge and confidence in their self-management skills similarly. Women reported significantly worse health status than men, but the differences observed were small and were attenuated after adjusting for socioeconomic status, smoking, body mass index, and comorbid illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have quantitatively addressed the relationship between asthma-specific quality of life and asthma control as assessed by validated tools. Questionnaires were completed at home by a random sample of 542 adult asthmatic patients. The correlations of the two asthma control tools (Asthma Control Test™ and Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire™) with the quality of life tool (mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire) were strongest with the symptoms and activity domains (r = 0.63-0.77); lower with the emotions domain (r = 0.57-0.64); and lowest with the environment domain (r = 0.38-0.43). Asthma control tools reflect the symptoms and activity themes of asthma quality of life well, but reflect the environmental domain less well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of asthma control. Questionnaires were completed by a random sample of 570 members of a large managed care organization who were ≥35 years of age with utilization suggestive of active asthma. Asthma control was assessed buy the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Independent relationships were found between lower ACT scores and oral corticosteroid use (p < 0.0001), COPD (p < 0.0001), absence of regular specialist care (p = 0.006), higher BMI (p = 0.01), gastroesophageal reflux (p = 0.02), not being Caucasian (p = 0.04), and low income (p = 0.04). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]