Quality of life in caregivers of children with asthma: Validity and reliability of the IFABI-R questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Parents'/caregivers' quality of life is an important aspect to consider when handling paediatric asthma, but there is a paucity of valid and reliable instruments to measure it. The Family Impact of Childhood Bronchial Asthma (IFABI-R) is a recently developed questionnaire to facilitate the assessment of asthma-related parents'/caregivers' quality of life. This study researches the psychometric properties of IFABI-R. METHODS: Parents/main caregivers of 462 children between 4 and 14 years of age with active asthma were included in the sample. IFABI-R was administered on two different occasions and a number of other variables related to the parents'/caregivers' quality of life were measured: child's asthma control, family functioning, and parents'/caregivers' perception of asthma symptoms in the child. IFABI-R evaluative and discriminative properties were analysed, and the minimal important change in the IFABI-R score was identified. RESULTS: IFABI-R showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.941), cross-sectional construct validity (correlation with the degree of child's asthma control, family functioning and parent/caregiver perception of the child's asthma symptoms), longitudinal construct validity (correlation of changes in the IFABI-R with changes in asthma control and changes in the perception of symptoms), sensitivity to change and test-retest reliability. An absolute change of 0.3 units in IFABI-R related to a minimal significant change in the parents'/caregivers' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: IFABI-R is a reliable and valid instrument to study the quality of life of parents/caregivers of children with asthma.

Clinical correlates and determinants of airway inflammation in pediatric asthma.

BACKGROUND: Airway inflammation is a key component in the pathophysiology of asthma. However, neither its role in the clinical features of asthma nor the factors affecting the degree of inflammation have been fully defined. METHODS: We determined the fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration (FE(NO)) using a portable device (NIOX-MINO, Aerocrine, Solna, Sweden) in a consecutive sample of 149 asthmatic children aged 6 to 14 years. In order to establish an association with FE(NO), we analyzed symptoms, spirometric parameters before and after a bronchodilator test, and the impact of asthma on quality of life during the previous 4 weeks. We also investigated how clinical variables that regulate inflammation affected FE(NO). RESULTS: In patients not treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICs), FE(NO) was higher when specific symptoms (wheeze and cough) had been present during the previous 4 weeks; however, we were unable to establish a relationship with symptom frequency, bronchodilator use, asthma crises, hospital admissions, limitation of daily activities, or spirometry results. In patients treated with ICs, FE(NO) was not related to the clinical expression of asthma, except for a reduced ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity, both before and after bronchodilation. The main determinant of FE level in untreated patients was sensitization to house dust mite. In patients treated with ICs, FE(NO) was only associated with adherence to therapy. CONCLUSION: Airway inflammation, as determined by FE(NO), is only weakly associated with the clinical expression of asthma and spirometry results. Adherence to treatment is the main determinant of the degree of inflammation in patients taking ICs.

[Feasibility of FeNO measurement in asthmatic children in the primary care setting. CANON Study]. / Factibilidad de la medición en atención primaria de la fracción exhalada de óxido nítrico en niños con asma. Estudio CANON.

AIM: Asses the feasibility of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement in asthmatic children using a hand-held device in the primary care setting. METHODS: Multicentre study performed in the paediatric clinics in seven Spanish primary health care centres. Each centre consecutively included 6-14 year-old children with doctor-diagnosed asthma. Children were asked to obtain two valid measurements of FeNO with the hand-held device NIOX MINO (Aerocrine AB, Solna, Sweden). Feasibility analysis included: (a) percentage of children able to perform the manoeuvre, (b) time required to obtain a successful determination, (c) number of attempts needed, and (d) acceptability of the technical procedure by clinical personnel involved in their guidance. RESULTS: The Study enrolled 151 children. A total of 149 (98.7%) were able to perform the FeNO manoeuvre. The majority (55%) of children had previous experience of using the hand-held device. The Overall median (and Interquartile Range, IQR) of attempts needed to reach a first valid measurement was 2 (1-3) and median (IQR) of time taken was 4 min (3-5). Nurses considered the overall procedure was very easy or easy in 87.8% (teaching) and 86.5% (performing) of children. Children with previous experience performed the manoeuvre in less attempts, less time and more easily than children without experience. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of FeNO using NIOX MINO device is technically feasible and acceptable for children and staff in the clinical context of asthma management in primary health care. Previous experience had a positive, learning effect, in teaching and performing the FeNO manoeuvre.

Formación MIR: ¿es necesaria una revolución? / No disponible

No disponible

Quality of life in caregivers of children with asthma: Validity and reliability of the IFABI-R questionnaire

BACKGROUND: Parents'/caregivers' quality of life is an important aspect to consider when handling paediatric asthma, but there is a paucity of valid and reliable instruments to measure it. The Family Impact of Childhood Bronchial Asthma (IFABI-R) is a recently developed questionnaire to facilitate the assessment of asthma-related parents'/caregivers' quality of life. This study researches the psychometric properties of IFABI-R. METHODS: Parents/main caregivers of 462 children between 4 and 14 years of age with active asthma were included in the sample. IFABI-R was administered on two different occasions and a number of other variables related to the parents'/caregivers' quality of life were measured: child's asthma control, family functioning, and parents'/caregivers' perception of asthma symptoms in the child. IFABI-R evaluative and discriminative properties were analysed, and the minimal important change in the IFABI-R score was identified. RESULTS: IFABI-R showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.941), cross-sectional construct validity (correlation with the degree of child's asthma control, family functioning and parent/caregiver perception of the child's asthma symptoms), longitudinal construct validity (correlation of changes in the IFABI-R with changes in asthma control and changes in the perception of symptoms), sensitivity to change and test-retest reliability. An absolute change of 0.3 units in IFABI-R related to a minimal significant change in the parents'/caregivers' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: IFABI-R is a reliable and valid instrument to study the quality of life of parents/caregivers of children with asthma

No disponible

[Nutritional status assessment in a group of cystic fibrosis patients]. / Valoración del estado nutricional en un grupo de pacientes con fibrosis quística.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the nutritional status and the efficiency of high density oral supplements in patients with cystic fibrosis. Twenty patients with cystic fibrosis (10 boys and 10 girls) with a mean age of 11.63 years (SD:6.3) were studied. Sixty percent of these patients were receiving high density oral supplements. A clinical and nutritional evaluation, including a three day evaluation of food intake, were performed. Patients were separated into two groups according to oral supplement intake and the presence or not of pulmonary colonization. We found the patients to have a mild to moderate clinical status. Anthropometric values were lower than ideal. Intake of calories, macronutrients and micronutrients were similar (except for folic acid) in both groups of patients and were close or above the established dietetic recommendations for cystic fibrosis. Patients with pulmonary colonization scored lower in the Shwachman and Brasfield tests, had lower weights, subscapular skinfolds and nutritional indices, and higher plasma immunoglobulin A concentrations. We conclude that a free hypercaloric diet allows cystic fibrosis patients to maintain an adequate nutritional status. Oral supplements should be prescribed on an individual basis according to the results of periodic food records and clinical and anthropometric status evaluation.

Control del asma en niños: validez del cuestionario CAN y surelación con la función pulmonar y el óxido nítrico exhalado / Controlling asthma in children: validity of the Asthma Control Questionnaire and its relationship with pulmonary function and exhaled nitric oxide

Objetivos. Estudiar la validez de criterio del cuestionario CAN para determinar el control del asma y su relación con medidas de función pulmonar y de inflamación de la vía aérea. Métodos. Niños de 6-14 años con asma de cualquier gravedad, atendidos en 7 centros de atención primaria. Los niños y uno de sus cuidadores respondieron al cuestionario CAN (versiones CAN-niño y CAN-cuidador), se midió la fracción exhalada de óxido nítrico (FeNO), se realizó espirometría basal y prueba broncodilatadora, y se determinó el control del asma según la Global Initiative for Asthma(GINA) por un pediatra entrenado. Resultados. Se incluyeron 149 niños. El cuestionario fue correctamente contestado por el 98,2% de los niños de 9-14 años y el 95,3% de los cuidadores de niños de 6-14 años. No había correlación entre los resultados del CAN y las medidas de función pulmonar o la FeNO. Las puntuaciones obtenidas en los cuestionarios CAN aumentaban consistentemente a medida que el control del asma era peor. La sensibilidad/especificidad de las versiones CAN-niño y CAN-cuidador fueron 77,8/59,8% y 78,1/60,9%, respectivamente. Independientemente del control del asma, los niños de más edad y los que cumplían mejor el tratamiento daban respuestas más favorables en el cuestionario. Las madres daban respuestas más desfavorables que otros cuidadores. Ni el nivel de estudios en la familia ni las variables relacionadas con riesgo de pérdida de control influían en los resultados. Conclusión. El cuestionario CAN discrimina entre diferentes grados de deterioro en el control del asma, pero no es suficiente para valorar adecuadamente todos los aspectos de ese control (AU)

Aim. To study the criterion validity of the CAN questionnaire in measuring asthma control in children, and its relationships to pulmonary function and airway inflammation. Methods. Six-to-fourteen years old children with asthma of any severity, presented at 7 primary care centers in Spain. The children and their caregiver answered the CAN questionnaires (CAN-child and CAN-carer versions), the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) was measured, basal and post-bronchodilator spirometry was conducted, and a formal evaluation of asthma control was performed by a trained pediatrician according to Global Initiative for Asthma(GINA).Results. One hundred and forty-nine children were included. CAN questionnaires were correctly answered by 98.2% of nine-to-fourteen years old children and by 95.3%of the caregivers of the six-to-fourteen years old children. There was not correlation between CAN and pulmonary function measures or FeNO. CAN results increased steadily as asthma control worsened. Sensitivity/specificity of the CAN-child and CAN-carer were respectively 77.8/59.8% and78.1/60.9%. Independently of asthma control, more favorable answers to CAN were given by older children and by children who were well adherent to therapy. Mothers rated control worse than other caregivers did. There were no influences in CAN results from educational level in the family or from variables related to risk of loss of control of asthma. Conclusion. CAN questionnaire differentiate between levels of impairment in asthma, but this is not enough to adequately assess all aspects of asthma control (AU)

Factibilidad de la medición en atención primaria de la fracción exhalada de óxido nítrico en niños con asma. Estudio CANON / Feasibility of FeNO measurement in asthmatic children in the primary care setting. CANON Study

Objetivo: Evaluar la factibilidad de la medición de la fracción exhalada de óxido nítrico (FeNO) en niños con asma, mediante la utilización de un dispositivo portátil, en el contexto de la atención primaria de salud. Métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, transversal, de visita única, en 7 centros de salud de España. Cada centro incluyó, de forma consecutiva, a niños de 6 a 14 años con diagnóstico médico de asma. Cada niño debía realizar 2 maniobras válidas de la FeNO utilizando el medidor portátil NIOX MINO(R) (Aerocrine AB, Solna, Suecia). El análisis de factibilidad incluyó: a) porcentaje de niños capaces de realizar la maniobra; b) determinación del número de pruebas necesarias hasta obtener un resultado válido; c) tiempo empleado entre el inicio de la primera maniobra y la obtención del resultado, y d) opinión del técnico sobre la facilidad de la enseñanza de la maniobra y valoración de la dificultad para su realización. Resultados: Se invitó a participar a 151 niños, de los cuales 149 (98,7%) fueron capaces de hacer la maniobra de la FeNO. El 55% de los niños tenía experiencia previa en el uso del dispositivo. Para el conjunto de los niños, la mediana de intentos necesarios hasta una medición válida fue de 2 (amplitud intercuartílica [IQR]: 1 a 3) y la mediana de tiempo empleado fue de 4min (IQR: 3 a 5). El personal sanitario a cargo de la prueba consideró el procedimiento (enseñanza y maniobra) fácil o muy fácil para el 87,8% (enseñanza) y para el 86,5% (maniobra) de los niños. Comparativamente, los niños con experiencia previa realizaron la prueba en menos intentos y menos tiempo, y la enseñanza y la ejecución les resultaron significativamente más fáciles que a los niños sin experiencia. Conclusiones: La medición de la FeNO con el medidor NIOX MINO(R), en el contexto de la atención primaria, es técnicamente factible y aceptable para los niños y el personal sanitario. La experiencia previa ejerce un papel de aprendizaje positivo y proporciona resultados válidos en menor tiempo y con menor número de intentos (AU)

Aim: Asses the feasibility of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement in asthmatic children using a hand-held device in the primary care setting. Methods: Multicentre study performed in the paediatric clinics in seven Spanish primary health care centres. Each centre consecutively included 6–14 year-old children with doctor-diagnosed asthma. Children were asked to obtain two valid measurements of FeNO with the hand-held device NIOX MINO(R) (Aerocrine AB, Solna, Sweden). Feasibility analysis included: (a) percentage of children able to perform the manoeuvre, (b) time required to obtain a successful determination, (c) number of attempts needed, and (d) acceptability of the technical procedure by clinical personnel involved in their guidance. Results: The Study enrolled 151 children. A total of 149 (98.7%) were able to perform the FeNO manoeuvre. The majority (55%) of children had previous experience of using the hand-held device. The Overall median (and Interquartile Range, IQR) of attempts needed to reach a first valid measurement was 2 (1–3) and median (IQR) of time taken was 4min (3–5). Nurses considered the overall procedure was very easy or easy in 87.8% (teaching) and 86.5% (performing) of children. Children with previous experience performed the manoeuvre in less attempts, less time and more easily than children without experience. Conclusions: Measurement of FeNO using NIOX MINO(R) device is technically feasible and acceptable for children and staff in the clinical context of asthma management in primary health care. Previous experience had a positive, learning effect, in teaching and performing the FeNO manoeuvre (AU)

Taller de diagnóstico de la alergia / Workshop on allergy diagnosis

La elevada y creciente prevalencia de las enfermedades alérgicas en los niños y adolescentes origina un gran número de consultas entre los pediatras de Atención Primaria. El objetivo principal de este taller es revisar los métodos diagnósticos de la alergia mediada por IgE, su utilidad e indicaciones. Para ello se resolverán distintos casos representativos de los escenarios clínicos que, con frecuencia, tiene que resolver el pediatra (AU)

Allergic conditions have a high and growing prevalence in children and adolescents, witch produce a great number of consultations among Primary Care paediatricians. The main objective of this workshop is to review the diagnostic procedures of IgE mediated allergy, their usefulness and indications. We will solve several different situations representative of the clinical background that often has to solve the paediatrician (AU)

Dolor abdominal crónico / chornic abdominal pain

No disponible

Asma y deporte / No disponible

El término de broncoespasmo inducido por ejercicio, preferible al de asma inducido por ejercicio, se refiere a la aparición de síntomas como tos, opresión en el pecho, sensación de fatiga o sibilancias, desencadenados por el ejercicio físico, tanto en personas con asma como en sanas, especialmente entre los deportistas. Se revisan las características que lo definen, los factores relacionados con su aparición, la prevalencia entre distintos colectivos y los criterios clínicos para su diagnóstico. Se describe la prueba de ejercicio, patrón oro para el diagnóstico de confirmación. La prevención de su aparición incluye medidas generales y tratamiento con fármacos, como beta agonistas, cromonas o antagonistas del receptor de leucotrienos, que resultan eficaces en la mayoría de los pacientes. Es imprescindible animar a los pacientes a la práctica de actividad física habitual, según sus preferencias y capacidades, que no deben verse limitadas por padecer asma

The term Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm, preferable to the Exercise-Induced Asthma, is referred to the appearance of symptoms as cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath or wheeze, triggered by the exercise both in people with asthma and also in healthy people, and especially in sportsmen. In this article is made a revision about the characteristics that define it, the factors connected with its appearance, the prevalence among different groups and the clinic criteria to its diagnosis. It is described the exercise test, gold standard for the confirmation diagnosis. The prevention in its appearance includes general rules and treatment with drugs as beta- 2 agonists, cromolyn and nedocromil sodium, and anti-leukotrienes agents, that turn out to be efficient in most people. It is essential to encourage the patients to practise usual physical activity, according to their preferences and abilities, that should not be limited as consequence of suffering from asthma or exercise-induced bronchospasm (AU)