This trial aims to evaluate novel diagnostic technologies for asthma in 3 different pathways providing the necessary evidence-base to allow adoption into clinical practice.
Pathway 1: Diagnostic case control study undertaken in a secondary care population
This will assess whether the novel technology can differentiate asthma from other respiratory conditions and from healthy volunteers, and whether the parameters they measure correlate with the current standard diagnostic tests (in line with the NICE algorithm) including those methods assessing airway inflammation and disease severity. Assessment of safety and acceptability of the technology will also be undertaken. We will invite patients who have asthma, other respiratory conditions and people who do not have any breathing problems to take part. It will be a single visit and all eligible participants will perform informed consent, and will then have baseline characteristics recorded, along with past medical history and demographical information. Participants will undergo the investigations currently used for the asthma diagnostic work-up in routine care. This will include spirometry, airway inflammation measurements (using FeNO), oscillometry and blood tests (where these have not been taken in the preceding 12 months). Participants will also be asked to use the novel device(s) currently being tested in this pathway. All participants will be asked to answer a questionnaire about how easy they found each test to use.
Pathway 2: Prospective diagnostic study undertaken in a primary care population
This study will assess whether the novel technology can be used to accurately diagnose asthma independently or whether it can be used alongside current diagnostic tests to improve the diagnostic pathway for patients with asthma. Acceptability of the novel device to patients and HCPs will be measured and the feasibility of using the novel device in the clinical pathway will be assessed. Participants with a clinical suspicion of asthma presenting with ≥1 symptom suggestive of asthma identified will be identified either from GP practices or patients presenting to the Portsmouth asthma service with diagnostic uncertainty.
Participants will undergo a comprehensive specialist assessment in line with the NICE asthma diagnostic algorithm mirroring our routine standard of care. This phase will consist of 3-4 visits depending on the results.
* Visit 0- informed consent will be taken and an initial clinical assessment will be undertaken including- demographics, symptom/asthma and other medical history review, medication review and co-morbidity assessment. Participants will complete a series of questionnaires assessing disease control, quality of life and co-morbidities. They will be provided with a peak flow meter and asked to keep a diary for 2-weeks.
* Visit 1- all participant's will undergo a comprehensive work-up including spirometry and oscillometry (pre and post bronchodilator), FeNO, blood tests and skin prick testing. They will also be asked to use the novel device and complete a short visual analogue scale questionnaire to explore the ease of use and acceptability of the device as a diagnostic test. Where a diagnosis of asthma can be made based on the testing done, participants will be commenced on treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid treatment (in line with our regional guidelines) and will be followed-up in 4-weeks from starting treatment. Where a diagnosis cannot be made, participants will be invited back to undergo a Methacholine challenge test.
* Visit 2 (only required for participants undergoing a Methacholine challenge test)- a diagnosis of asthma will either be confirmed, excluded or a treatment trial will be required. Where asthma is confirmed or a trial of treatment recommended, participants ill be commenced on treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid treatment (in line with our regional guidelines) and will be followed-up in 4-weeks from starting treatment.
* Visit 3: Further clinical assessment to assess response to treatment. Where needed diagnosis will be confirmed or excluded. Where asthma is confirmed all participants will be provided with an asthma self-management plan (if this has not happened in an earlier visit).
All participants will have asthma either confirmed or excluded by the end of their study visits with treatment commenced where appropriate. A report will be issued to both themselves and their GP outlining the results of their investigations and any ongoing management recommendations.
Pathway 3: A phenotypic characterisation study undertaken in participants with confirmed asthma
This study will assess the ability of the novel device to identify clinically important phenotypic characteristics which are difficult to measure in primary care and/or significantly impact on patient management and treatment. Important phenotypic characteristics include: T2 inflammation; Small airways dysfunction; Overlapping Breathing Pattern Disorder.
Participants with confirmed asthma (including those identified from Pathways 1 and 2) will be recruited and undergo an enhanced characterisation, including detailed lung function testing, biomarker assessment for T2 airway inflammation and co-morbidity questionnaires. This phase can run in parallel to Pathways 1 and 2 if necessary and where these investigations have already been undertaken in earlier phases, they will not be repeated with the earlier results being used.
All participants and healthcare professionals involved in the study will also be asked to complete a short visual analogue scale questionnaire to explore the ease of use and acceptability of the device as a diagnostic test.
