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Asthma Impairment and Risk Questionnaire (AIRQ)

10-item yes/no composite measure of current asthma impairment and future exacerbation risk.

Asthma Impairment and Risk Questionnaire (AIRQ)
In the past 2 weeks: daytime asthma symptoms (cough, wheeze, chest tightness, breathlessness) on 4 or more days
In the past 2 weeks: woken from sleep by asthma symptoms
In the past 2 weeks: asthma kept the patient from being as active as they would like
In the past 2 weeks: used a rescue/reliever inhaler on 2 or more days
In the past 2 weeks: avoided or cut short exercise, sports, or social activities because of asthma
In the past 2 weeks: missed school or work because of asthma
In the past 2 weeks: felt that asthma symptoms were difficult to control
In the past 12 months: needed a course of oral/systemic corticosteroids for asthma
In the past 12 months: had an emergency department visit, urgent care visit, or hospitalization for asthma
In general, over the past 12 months: would describe asthma as not well controlled
Result0 points

Asthma is classified as well controlled (0-1 = well controlled, 2-4 = not well controlled, 5-10 = very poorly controlled).

Yes responses
0

When to use

  • Assessing current impairment and future exacerbation risk in patients >=12 years old with physician-diagnosed asthma, as a composite alternative to symptom-only control tools.

Formula

Sum of 10 equally weighted yes/no items (7 assessing impairment over the past 2 weeks, 3 assessing risk over the past 12 months); each 'yes' = 1 point. Score 0-1 = well controlled, 2-4 = not well controlled, 5-10 = very poorly controlled.

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Derived and validated by logistic regression against Asthma Control Test category plus prior-year exacerbation history in 442 patients spanning all GINA severities.
  • A score of >=2 is associated with meaningfully increased odds of a future exacerbation.

References

  1. Murphy KR, Chipps B, Beuther DA, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(7):2263-2274.e5.