A systematic review and meta-analysis of nine studies evaluated CARATkids—the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test for Children—for ages 6 to 12 with both conditions. Following PRISMA/COSMIN, the tool showed sufficient content validity (low certainty), strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α≈0.81; low certainty), and good test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient ≈0.86; low certainty). Construct validity was supported by moderate–strong correlations with most comparators, and the minimal clinically important difference was estimated at 2.76. Responsiveness was generally adequate with VAS nose, VAS global, and AcT, but weaker/inconsistent with VAS asthma. The instrument has already been validated across several languages and settings, supporting its cross-cultural applicability, and its brevity makes it practical for routine clinic workflows.
CARATkids appears suitable for clinical use to jointly assess asthma and allergic rhinitis control in children aged 6 to 12, with further research encouraged to strengthen content/structural validity and clarify responsiveness—particularly relative to VAS asthma. In practice, it can serve as a brief PROM to monitor both conditions concurrently and guide treatment adjustments over time. Scores should be interpreted alongside clinical assessment and objective measures where available.
Reference: Derman C. CARATkids Validated for Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis in Children. HCP LIve. Published September 26, 2025. Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.hcplive.com/view/caratkids-validated-for-asthma-allergic-rhinitis-in-children
Link: https://www.hcplive.com/view/caratkids-validated-for-asthma-allergic-rhinitis-in-children
