Evaluation of the modified asthma predictive index in high-risk preschool children.

BACKGROUND

Prediction of subsequent school-age asthma during the preschool years has proven challenging.

OBJECTIVE

To confirm in a post hoc analysis the predictive ability of the modified Asthma Predictive Index (mAPI) ina high-risk cohort and a theoretical unselected population. We also tested a potential mAPI modification with a 2-wheezing episode requirement (m2API) in the same populations.

METHODS

Subjects (n [ 289) with a family history of allergy and/or asthma were used to predict asthma at age 6, 8, and 11 years with the use of characteristics collected during the first 3 years of life. The mAPI and the m2API were tested for predictive value.

RESULTS

For the mAPI and m2API, school-age asthma prediction improved from 1 to 3 years of age. The mAPI had high predictive value after a positive test (positive likelihood ratio ranging from 4.9 to 55) for asthma development at years 6,8, and 11. Lowering the number of wheezing episodes to 2(m2API) lowered the predictive value after a positive test(positive likelihood ratio ranging from 1.91 to 13.1) without meaningfully improving the predictive value of a negative test.Posttest probabilities for a positive mAPI reached 72% and 90%in unselected and high-risk populations, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In a high-risk cohort, a positive mAPI greatly increased future asthma probability (eg, 30% pretest probability to 90% posttest probability) and is a preferred predictive test to them 2API. With its more favorable positive posttest probability,the mAPI can aid clinical decision making in assessing future asthma risk for preschool-age children.