Title: Assessment of functional disorders in asthmatic children comparing parameters of simple spirometry with plethysmography
Abstract:Rational. Lung function (LF) testing is considered as hallmark to get objectivity of functional deficits and their severity. The question is whether simple spirometry is an appropriate tool for that p...Rational. Lung function (LF) testing is considered as hallmark to get objectivity of functional deficits and their severity. The question is whether simple spirometry is an appropriate tool for that purpose in asthmatic children. Objectives. Selectivity to detect abnormal in asthmatic children comparing spirometric with plethysmographic parameters. Methods. An asthma database was prospectively built-up during the past 3 years comprising measurements of 168 children (98 males, 70 females). Target parameters of spirometry were forced expiratory indices (FEV 1 , MEF 50 ), those of plethysmography functional residual capacity (FRC pleth ), and effective total airway resistance (sR tot ). Data were analysed as standard deviation scores (SDS) using reference equations. Results. Normal were found in 11.8% of patients. 19.8% presented with pulmonary hyperinflation (FRC pleth >2 SDS), 22.7% with bronchial obstruction (sR tot >2 SDS), and 48.2% with bronchial obstruction and pulmonary hyperinflation. A small group of 9.4% presented only with a decrease of MEF 50 , considered as “small airway dysfunction. Best detection rate of abnormal LF was found for sR tot (72.3%) followed by MEF 50 (51.6%). FEV 1 was abnormal only in 14.7% of patients, especially with a very low rate in patients with pulmonary hyperinflation (6.9% and those with both pulmonary hyperinflation and bronchial obstruction (23.1%). Conclusions. The assessment of lung function disorders in asthmatic children should not be based on spirometry only, because airway patency is not well reflected by flow-volume curves in children, especially when pulmonary hyperinflation is present.Read More
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-09-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot