Addition of peak flow monitoring to symptom monitoring did not improve healthcare visits, quality of life, or lung function in older adults with moderate-to-severe asthma
Q In older adults with moderate-to-severe asthma, is symptom monitoring plus peak flow monitoring (PFM) (used as part of a comprehensive management plan) better than symptom monitoring alone for healthcare utilisation, quality of life, and lung function?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
{concealed}.*
Blinding:
blinded (data collectors and {healthcare providers}*).
Follow up period:
up to 2 years.
Setting:
a large managed care organisation in Oregon, USA.
Patients:
296 adults 50–92 years of age (mean age 66 y, 52% women) who had physician diagnosed asthma, medication use suggestive of moderate-to-severe asthma, bronchodilator reversibility (>8% of baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 sec [FEV1]), and demonstrated ability to keep a daily symptom diary.
Intervention:
149 patients were allocated to symptom monitoring plus PFM, and 147 were allocated to symptom monitoring only. …
