Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .
Impact of asthma controller medications on clinical, economic, and patient-reported outcomes.
OBJECTIVE To comprehensively evaluate clinical , economic , and patient-reported outcomes associated with various therapeutic classes of asthma controller medications . PATIENTS AND METHODS This observational study , which used administrative cl aims data from US commercial health plans , included patients with asthma aged 18 through 64 years who filled a prescription for at least 1 asthma controller medication from September 1 , 2003 , through August 31 , 2005 . Outcome metrics included the use of short-acting beta-agonists ( SABAs ) , the use of oral corticosteroids , inpatient (INP)/emergency department ( ED ) visits , and asthma-related health care costs .  A subset of 5000 patients was r and omly selected for a survey using the Mini-Asthma Quality of Life Question naire , the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment question naire , and the Asthma Therapy Assessment Question naire . RESULTS Of 56,168 eligible patients , 823 returned completed question naires . Compared with inhaled corticosteroids ( ICSs ) , leukotriene modifiers ( LMs ) were associated with lower odds of INP/ED visits ( odds ratio [ OR ] , 0.80 ; P<.001 ) , lower odds of using 6 or more SABA canisters ( OR , 0.81 ; P<.001 ) , and higher annual cost ( $ 193 ; P<.001 ) . In the subgroup analysis of adherent patients , LMs were associated with higher odds of INP/ED visits ( OR , 1.74 ; P=.04 ) , lower odds of using 6 or more SABA canisters ( OR , 0.46 ; P<.001 ) , and higher annual cost ( $ 235 ; P<.001 ) . Inhaled corticosteroids and LMs had a comparable impact on all patient-reported outcomes . For combination therapy , ICS plus a long-acting beta-agonist consistently showed at least equivalent or better outcomes in the use of SABAs and oral corticosteroids , the risk of INP/ED visits , cost , asthma control level , quality of life , and impairment in productivity and activity . CONCLUSION Inhaled corticosteroids were associated with a lower risk of INP/ED visits , and a lower cost if adherence was achieved . When adherence can not be achieved , LMs may be a reasonable alternative . Combination therapy with ICS plus a long-acting beta-agonist was associated with better or equivalent clinical , economic , and patient-reported outcomes
Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .