ACT is a test which provides comprehensive evaluation of asthma control simply based on the total score of individual patient response to a 5-item questionnaire about asthma symptoms and quality of life (Figure 3).
A score of 25 points indicates controlled asthma; 20 to 24, partially controlled; and 19 or below, uncontrolled.
The ACT is complementary to the pulmonary function test, and can be used for the self-assessment of asthma control level either completed at home or in a community survey.
This measurement may help to achieve a better assessment of asthma control and improve the interaction between physicians and patients.
It also provides reproducible objective parameters for long-term monitoring.
Continuous monitoring of these parameters may be critical in adjusting the treatment regimen and determining the minimum treatment step that is sufficient to keep asthma under control, and hence at a lower medical cost.