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The Effect of Asthma Flare-up Clinic After Exacerbation

Not Applicable
Conditions
Asthma Attack
Asthma
Interventions
Other: Follow-up in a flare-up clinic
Registration Number
NCT06201728
Lead Sponsor
Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Brief Summary

The goal of this interventional study is to examine the effect of asthma flare-up clinic follow-up in adult subjects after an asthma flare-up. This study aim to answer the following questions:

1. Does a follow-up in a flare-up clinic improves disease outcomes?

2. Does a follow-up in a flare-up clinic improves disease management?

Participants in the intervention group will take part in a structured follow-up at the asthma flare-up clinic at three time points. Each visit will include questionnaires, pulmonologist examination and consultation, laboratory tests and spirometry. The control group will undergo phone-call follow-up with a research coordinator in similar time frames as the intervention.

Researchers will compare the two groups to see if the clinic follow-up affects the study outcomes.

Detailed Description

The primary outcomes will be analyzed as total exacerbations during the time frame and as a time-dependent variable (time to exacerbation) using Kaplan Meier survival analysis. Additional sub-analyses will be made for the type of inclusion setting (ED/hospitalization), number of prior exacerbations, and eosinophil count. Additional analyses will be made for all secondary outcomes. Analyses relevant only for the intervention group (such as spirometry and IOS) will compare results to the first follow-up visit. A cost-effectiveness analysis will be made, comparing the follow-up cost and the cost saved by exacerbation reduction based on the final results.

Sample size calculation - The invetigators assume based on previous research that the intervention will lead to a 20% decrease in exacerbations during the 12 months from first follow-up. To achieve an alpha of 0.05 and a power of 80%, there is a need for 88 patients in each group. Assuming a loss-to-follow-up rate (missing to complete at least 2 clinic visits or loss to phone follow-up) of 20%, the study will need 115 patients in each group (230 overall).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
230
Inclusion Criteria
  • Prior asthma diagnosis based on clinical and spirometry accepted criteria.
  • Acute exacerbation of asthma as the main reason for ED arrival.
  • Ability to perform in-person and telephone follow-up.
  • Agree to participate, with a signed or verbal informed consent, according to the study group.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Uncontrolled comorbidity.
  • Cognitive dysfunction.
  • Patients under 18 years or above 75 years.
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other lung diseases (eg, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, etc) which may impair lung function.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
InterventionFollow-up in a flare-up clinicThe intervention will include 3 follow-up visits in the flare up clinic - one month after hospital discharge (from ED or admission), 3 months after the first visit, 6 months after the second visit. 18 months after the first visit there will be an additional phone-call with structured interview. Each clinic visit will include: i. Pulmonologist examination, review of disease state and care, and adjustment of treatment. ii. Vital signs (blood pressure, saturation in room air, pulse). iii. Blood sample for complete blood count. iv. Filling Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). v. Spirometry. vi. Impulse oscillometry and FeNO tests. vii. Arrangement of next follow-up visit.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
ExacerbationsDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

The rate of severe asthma exacerbations between the intervention and control, defined as a deterioration of asthma leading to treatment for 3 days or more with systemic glucocorticoids or hospitalization or an emergency department visit leading to treatment with systemic glucocorticoids.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Hospital arrivalDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

The rate of asthma exacerbations leading to hospital arrival between the intervention and control

Systemic steroidsDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

The rate of systemic steroids use between the intervention and control

Asthma control scoreDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Change in asthma control score between the intervention and control. Values range 5-25, with higher scores indicating better control.

Quality of life scoreDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Change in Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score in the intervention group. Values range 7-224, with higher scores indicating better quality of life

Time to first exacerbationDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Time to first asthma exacerbation between the intervention and control

Time to first hospital arrivalDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Time to first hospital arrival due to asthma exacerbation and from any cause between the intervention and control

Time to first systemic steroids useDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Time to first systemic steroid use due to respiratory symptoms between the intervention and control

Clinical remissionDuring study follow-up (18 months from inclusion)

Rate of clinical remission for at least 12 months, defined as a period without exacerbations, need of systemic steroids, and an ACT above or equal to 20.

Extended clinical remissionDuring study follow-up (18 months from inclusion)

Rate of extended clinical remission for at least 12 months, defined as above, with additional spirometry criteria - FEV1 after bronchodilators equal/above 80% or increase of 100 ml of pre-bronchodilator FEV1 from baseline.

Percentage of Participants with errors of inhaler use techniqueDuring study follow-up (18 months from inclusion)

Errors of inhaler use technique in the intervention group between clinic visits

Percentage of Participants with a change in treatmentFirst clinic visit (1 month after inclusion)

Change in treatment at the first clinic visit in the intervention group

Adherent to treatment guidelinesDuring study follow-up (18 months from inclusion)

Treatment adhere to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines based on disease severity, in the intervention vs. the control.

Percentage of Participants with treatment complianceDuring study follow-up (18 months from inclusion)

Compliance of inhaler treatment between the intervention and control

Change in spirometry variablesDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Change in spirometry variables in the intervention group, including forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in liters and %predicted, Forced vital capacity (FVC) in liters and %predicted.

Change in FeNO resultsDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Change in exhaled nitric oxide test results (FeNO) in the intervention group, in parts per billion.

Change in area of reactance using IOSDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Change in the area of reactance (AX) using Impulse oscillometry.

Change in resonant frequency using IOSDuring study follow-up (18 months from inclusion)

Change in the reactance resonant frequency (RF, measured in Hz) using Impulse oscillometry.

Changes in respiratory resistance at 5 Hz, 20 Hz and the difference between 5 and 20 Hz using IOSDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Change in respiratory resistance at 5 Hz (R5, measured in kPa/L/s) and 20 Hz (R20, measured in kPa/L/s), the difference between R5 and R20 (R5-R20, measured in kPa/L/s) using Impulse oscillometry.

Changes in reactance at 5 Hz using IOSDuring study follow-up (12 months from inclusion)

Change in the reactance at 5 Hz (X5) using Impulse oscillometry.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

🇮🇱

Tel Aviv, Israel

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