Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/39612

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Title
Validity of the common cold questionnaire (CCQ) in asthma exacerbations
Author/Creator
Powell, Heather;  Smart, Joanne;  Wood, Lisa G.;  Grissell, Terry;  Shafren, Darren R.;  Hensley, Michael J.;  Gibson, Peter G.
Institution
The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Health, School of Medicine and Public Health
Description
Background: The common cold questionnaire (CCQ) is used to discriminate those with and without a viral infection. Its usefulness in people with acute asthma is unknown. Our aim was to asess the ability of the CCQ to detect viral infection and to monitor recovery during a viral induced asthma exacerbation and confirmed by virological testing. Methodology/Principal Findings: We studied subjects (≥7 yrs) admitted to hospital with acute asthma and diagnosed as positive (n=63), or negative to viral infection (n=27) according to molecular and virological testing from respiratory samples. CCQ asthma history and asthma control questionaire were completed and repeated 4-6 weeks later. Sensitivity specificity, and response to change of the CCQ were assessed by receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis and effect size calculation respectively. The CCQ did not discriminate between viral and non-viral infection for subjects with asthma (sensitivity = 76.2%; specificity = 29.6%). ROC analysis could not differentiate between positive or negative virus in subjects with asthma. The CCQ had a large responce to change following recovery (effect size = 1.01). 39% of subjects recovering from viral exacerbation remained positive to virological testing at follow-up despite improvement in clinical symptoms. The CCQ reflected clinical improvement in these subjects, thus providing additional information to complement virological testing. Conclusions/Significance: The CCQ is a useful instrument for monitorong response to viral infection in people with asthma. Reliable differentiation between viral and non-viral asthma exacerbations was not achieved with the CCQ and requires specific virological testing. When combined with virological testing, the CCQ should be a useful outcome measure for evaluating therapies in viral-induced asthma.
Relation
PLoS ONE Vol. 3, Issue 3
Publisher Link
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0001802
Date
2008
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Keyword(s)
asthma;  respiratory viral infections;  commom cold questionnaire;  asthma exacerbation
Resource Type
journal article
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/39612
Identifier
ISSN:1932-6203
Reviewed
Reviewed
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Subject
"PLoS ONE"
 
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