Asthma Control Questionnaires
Asthma control was assessed using age-appropriate standardized questionnaires (Test for Respiratory Asthma Control in Kids(TRACK)) completed by parents with children younger than 5 years. The questionnaire was completed before and after the TA-B-BAL procedure in the case group and at clinic visits for the control group. A higher score indicates greater asthma control and scores greater than 80 indicate that asthma control was achieved21.
Information about the number of exacerbations, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, oral steroid courses and pulmonary function tests was collected in a standardized fashion for all patients. A clinically meaningful change in TRACK score was defined as a difference of 10 points 22. It should be noted that formalized questionnaires were instituted in 2014.