The Swiss Paediatric Airway Cohort (SPAC) is a national, prospective clinical cohort of children and adolescents who visit physicians in Switzerland for recurrent wheeze, cough, and exercise- or sleep-related respiratory problems. SPAC aims to answer important questions on clinical phenotypes, prognosis, diagnosis and treatment. SPAC is part of routine care, and only clinically indicated investigations are done. The comprehensive baseline assessment includes a detailed questionnaire to families, plus test results, diagnoses and treatments from hospital records. Follow-up is via monthly questionnaires the first 12 months and thereafter annual questionnaires to families, and data from follow-up visits.
Currently, 4344 patients from 10 clinics and hospitals in Switzerland (Aarau, Basel, Bern, Chur, Horgen, Lausanne, Luzern, St. Gallen, Worb, Zurich) have been enrolled.
SPAC provides real-life data on children visiting the Swiss health care system for common respiratory problems. It will provide a research platform for health services research, and for nested clinical and transitional studies.
Publications and plain language summaries are listed on the study website: https://www.spac-study.ch/publikationen/
Children and adolescents aged 0-16 years
Resident in Switzerland
Seen in a paediatric pulmonary outpatient clinic due to respiratory problems
Parents and patients above age 14 must be able to sign an informed consent form
None
Paediatric pulmonology outpatient clinics in Switzerland
Cohort
Prospective
Not listed
Wheeze
Number of patients with current wheeze as measured with questionnaire
Cough apart from colds
Number of patients with cough apart from colds as measured with questionnaires
Exercise-induced dyspnea
Number of patients with exercise-induced dyspnea as measured with questionnaires
Reduced lung function
Number of patients with reduced lung function measured through clinical tests in the paediatric pulmonary clinics (Spirometry, Fraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxide, Bronchial challenge test, Exercise challenge test). Information collected through hospital records.
Wheeze
Number of patients with current wheeze as measured with questionnaire
Cough apart from colds
Number of patients with Cough apart from colds as measured with questionnaire
Exercise-induced dyspnea
Number of patients with Exercise-induced dyspnea as measured with questionnaire
Reduced lung function
Number of patients with reduced lung function measured through clinical tests in the paediatric pulmonary clinics (Spirometry, Fraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxide,
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