Active clinical trials for "Asthma"

This study will collect blood and sputum (phlegm) samples from subjects with asthma, smokers and normal healthy subjects, to compare the biological markers of disease and inflammation.

The primary objective of this study is to document the prevalence and associations between asthma, hypertension, and obesity in children living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and its surrounding regions. The secondary objective is to determine the impact of various educational interventions on child and caregiver knowledge of asthma.

To evaluate whether beclomethasone dipropionate / formoterol (BDP/FOR; Fostair® 100/6) is at least equivalent in terms of exacerbation prevention to fluticasone dipropionate / salmeterol (FP/SAL; Seretide® 125) in matched asthma patients switching to BDP/FOR following treatment with FP/SAL in normal clinical practice compared with patients not switched.

To identify and understand biologic aspects of severe asthma compared to subjects with mild to moderate asthma and subjects without asthma (normal or healthy volunteers).

Asthma is a common chronic disorder of the airways characterized by periods of reversible airflow obstruction known as asthma episodes or attacks. Asthma attacks are caused by chronically hyperactive (contraction of the muscles surrounding the airways) and inflamed airways, leading to airflow obstruction, and may be mild, moderate, or severe enough to become life-threatening events. Severity of asthma exacerbation is assessed through medical history and lung function measurements with Spirometer and requires full cooperation of the patient. Thus, in uncooperative populations or during emergency medical situations the spirometer cannot be used. As an alternative, capnography data has been proposed as an indicator of bronchospasm in asthma. Previous studies found correlations between the capnography parameters and methacholine challenge in asthma patients. However, the relationship between capnography parameters and severity of asthma or severity of asthma exacerbation have not been well characterized. The study hypothesis is that within the clinical population that is invited to do the methacholine challenge, a different waveform pattern in asthma patients will be detected and possibly a correlation between the severity of obstruction and pattern of waveform during the methacholine challenge. In this proposed feasibility observational study, sixty subjects, both men and women, who will be invited to participate in the methacholine challenge in the Institute of Pulmonary Medicine at Rabin Medical Center, will be recruited to the study. Respiratory information will be recorded using the CapnostreamTM20p while the subjects will wear the non-invasive Smart CapnoLine® Plus sampling line. Additionally, FeNO will be measured using a DENOX 88 device during the methacholine challenge.

The objective of this study is to compare healthcare utilization and costs in Medicare-eligible asthma patients (aged >65) who receive fluticasone propionate/salmeterol xinafoate combination or inhaled corticosteroids in a typical clinical practice using a retrospective observational cohort study design of large managed care database. Outcomes on interest include asthma related severe exacerbations defined as asthma related emergency department visits, hospitalizations or combined emergency department/hospitalization. Other outcomes of interest include use of albuterol, oral corticosteroids and overall asthma related costs. Outcomes of interest will be compared between the two treatment cohorts (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol xinafoate combination or inhaled corticosteroids). Dichotomous outcomes (emergency visits, hospitalizations etc) will be compared using Cox regression hazards analysis assessing time to first event for each asthma related endpoint adjusting for differences in baseline demographics such as age, gender, previous asthma medication use, co morbidities, costs, and plan demographics. Total asthma related costs will also be compared using generalized linear models adjusting for baseline differences.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether parameters of the pulmonary function tests and the bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine are predictors of asthma exacerbations.

Evaluation of the frequency of limitation of activity, depending on gender and age-group, in patients with persistent asthma consulting a general practitioner

Accordingly, the new update of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines 2006 is based on the control of the disease and attempts to quantify and graduate the level of control by using a classification of asthmatic subjects into controlled,partly controlled and uncontrolled groups. Achieving and maintaining optimal asthma control is a major goal of asthma management. Although the results of clinical trials advocate that asthma control can be reached in most patients, there is evidence that many subjects with asthma have poorly controlled disease and that there is a significant gap between the treatment goals and the current level of asthma control achieved in the general population. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of uncontrolled and partly controlled asthma in Italy using a patient-based tool such as Asthma Control Test.

The purpose of this study is to identify the potential issues during short and mid term utilization of Pulmicort hydro fluoroaklane (HFA) pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI)and describe associated factors.