One of the primary goals of asthma treatment set by the NHLBI guidelines is to prevent chronic and troublesome symptoms during the day and night and to prevent recurrent exacerbations (asthma attacks). The survey demonstrates that a significant number of children experienced symptoms (wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing) as often as three times a week to daily (Figure 3).
Symptom Frequency (in the past four weeks)
- Nearly one in five children with asthma (19%) experienced daytime symptoms at least three times a week to daily (Figure 3)
- One-third (34%) of children were awakened at night by asthma symptoms, with nearly one in four children with asthma (22%) having nighttime symptoms at least once or twice a week (Figure 3)
- Nearly half (49%) of children with asthma experienced symptoms during exercise, play or physical exertion in the past four weeks, with a third (33%) having these exercise-induced symptoms at least once or twice a week (Figure 3)
- Two-thirds (67%) of children with asthma had asthma symptoms during the daytime, during exercise or exertion or during the night in the past four weeks (Figure 4)
Symptom Severity and Asthma Attacks
- More than half of the children with asthma (54%) had one or more sudden, severe asthma attacks (episodes) in the past year (Figure 5)
- One in five children with asthma (21%) experienced a sudden, severe asthma attack at least twice a month (Figure 5)
- More than one-quarter (27%) ever thought their child’s life was in danger during an asthma attack, and one in 10 (10%) had an asthma attack so bad that they thought their life was in danger within the past year (Figure 6)
Parents Underestimate Symptom Severity
The majority of respondents significantly underestimated the severity of their or their child’s symptoms, particularly when they or their child had asthma that could be classified as “moderate persistent” (moderate) or “severe persistent” (severe). Severity criteria were based on NHLBI asthma symptom severity classifications.
- The survey suggested that more than a quarter (28%) of children experienced symptoms consistent with moderate or severe asthma (Figure 7)
- Of the children classified with moderate asthma, 46% of respondents rated his or her asthma as good or very good; of the children classified with severe asthma, 50% responded it was good or very good (Figure 8)
- Of the children classified with moderate asthma, nearly three out of five respondents (58%) believed his or her asthma was well or completely controlled (Figure 9)
- Of the children classified with severe asthma, nearly half of respondents (48%) believed his or her asthma was well or completely controlled (Figure 9)
