Abstract
The goal of asthma treatment is to obtain clinical control and reduce future risks to the patient. To reach this goal in children with asthma, ongoing monitoring is essential. While all components of asthma, such as symptoms, lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and inflammation, may exist in various combinations in different individuals, to date there is limited evidence on how to integrate these for optimal monitoring of children with asthma. The aims of this ERS Task Force were to describe the current practise and give an overview of the best available evidence on how to monitor children with asthma.
22 clinical and research experts reviewed the literature. A modified Delphi method and four Task Force meetings were used to reach a consensus.
This statement summarises the literature on monitoring children with asthma. Available tools for monitoring children with asthma, such as clinical tools, lung function, bronchial responsiveness and inflammatory markers, are described as are the ways in which they may be used in children with asthma. Management-related issues, comorbidities and environmental factors are summarised.
Despite considerable interest in monitoring asthma in children, for many aspects of monitoring asthma in children there is a substantial lack of evidence.
Abstract
ERS statement summarising and discussing the available literature on monitoring children with asthma http://ow.ly/H01NG
Footnotes
Disclosures can be found alongside the online version of this article at erj.ersjournals.com
Four supporting documents will be published in the June 2015 issue of the European Respiratory Review: introduction; symptoms, exacerbations and quality of life; lung function, bronchial responsiveness and inflammation; and management-related issues.
- Received May 14, 2014.
- Accepted September 22, 2014.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
Jump To
- Article
- Abstract
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Limitations of this Task Force
- Recommendations on monitoring in asthma guidelines
- Factors to consider when choosing monitoring tools
- Monitoring tools
- Clinical tools: symptoms, exacerbations and QoL
- Lung function
- Bronchial hyperresponsiveness
- Markers of inflammation
- Management-related issues, comorbidities and the environment
- Knowledge gaps and research needs in monitoring childhood asthma
- Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
- Footnotes
- References
- Figures & Data
- Info & Metrics