CONTROL OF ASTHMA AMONG PATIENTS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Background: Asthma Control Test (ACT) Questionnaire is developed to meet the guidelines internationally accepted for asthma management by measuring adequacy and any alteration in control of asthma, occurring spontaneously or after starting asthma management. Objectives: to assess control of asthma in a sample of patients diagnosed as asthmatics in Saudi Arabia based on Asthma Control Test (ACT) Methods: fifty asthmatic patients, from those attending the out patients clinics in Hospitals, were included in this study in the period from June to September 2018. Patients were subjected to: full clinical history and examination for clinical classification of the disease and to recognize controlled from uncontrolled patients; review for the treatment plan for each patient; (ACT) questionnaire was used to identify patients with poorly controlled asthma. Results: clinical classification of asthma showed that 20% of patients had intermittent asthma, 24% had mild persistent asthma, 32 % had moderately persistent asthma and 24% of patients got severe persistent asthma. According to ACT only 24% of patients were controlled, while the rest of patients 76% were considered uncontrolled. Conclusion: ACT was found to be a reliable tool for assessment of uncontrolled asthmatic patients when implemented. Conduct more studies in different geographical areas to assess effectiveness of the AST questionnaire in different situations and different asthmatic patients. Keywords: Asthma, Asthmatic Patients, Saudi Arabia