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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

A Novel Inhalation Mask System to Deliver High Concentrations of Nitric Oxide Gas in Spontaneously Breathing Subjects
Published on: May 4, 2021
Exhaled nitric oxide levels correlate with measures of disease control in asthma
J M Sippel1, W E Holden, S A Tilles
1Pulmonary and Critical Care Section, Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA.
Background:
Asthma guidelines emphasize maintaining disease control. However, objective measures of asthma disease control are lacking.
Objective:
We sought to examine the relationship between exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels and measures of asthma disease control versus asthma disease severity.
Methods:
We performed a cross-sectional study of 100 patients (age range, 7-80 years) with asthma. We administered a questionnaire to identify characteristics of asthma, performed spirometric testing before and after administration of a bronchodilator, and measured exhaled NO levels in all participants.
Results:
Exhaled NO was significantly correlated with the following markers of asthma disease control: asthma symptoms within the past 2 weeks (P =.02), dyspnea score (P =. 02), daily use of rescue medications (P =.01), and reversibility of airflow obstruction (P =.02). Exhaled NO levels were not correlated with the following markers of asthma disease severity: history of respiratory failure (P =.20), health care use (P =.08), fixed airflow obstruction (P =.91), or a validated asthma severity score (P =.19). Markers with relevance to both disease control and severity showed either a weak correlation (FEV(1) and FEV(1) percent predicted) or no correlation (controller drug use) with exhaled NO.
Conclusion:
We conclude that exhaled NO levels are correlated predominantly with markers of asthma control rather than asthma severity. Monitoring of exhaled NO may be useful in outpatient asthma management.
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