Control and Burden of Asthma and Rhinitis

During 2010, we've conducted two cross-sectional, telephonic national surveys that assessed the prevalence (Portuguese Asthma Prevalence Survey - PAPS) and the control (Portuguese Asthma Control Survey - PACS) of asthma and rhinitis. Before these surveys there was no country-wide data on prevalence or about the control of asthma in Portugal.We propose an additional study that will apply a comprehensive set of diagnostic tests and clinical assessment to a sub-sample of participants in the PACS study. The effect of asthma, rhinitis and their control on personal and social burden will be studied comparing patients with current asthma and/or rhinitis and individuals with no respiratory symptoms.Sample size calculations were based on the comparison of quality of life measured by WHOQOL-BREF in patients with different diagnosis. Data collection includes anthropometric measurements, lung function \& inflammation tests, allergy tests, a structured clinical interview and standardized questionnaires. Research assistants performing the evaluations will be blinded to the subject classification in PAPS and PACS and to the results of the questionnaires administered, namely the GA2LEN survey instrument and CARAT. The data collection will be organized with the local Public Health delegate and will take place as close as possible to the participants' communities at a local health unit or in the surrounding area, in order to minimize dropouts.