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Does bronchodilator responsiveness in infants with bronchiolitis depend on age?

Manfred Modl1, Ernst Eber, Doris Malle-Scheid

  • 1Respiratory and Allergic Disease Division, Paediatric Department, Medical University of Graz, Austria.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|November 18, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Bronchodilator responsiveness in infants with bronchiolitis is not linked to age. This study found no significant correlation between a child's age and their response to bronchodilator medication.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
  • Pulmonology
  • Infant Health

Background:

  • Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection in infants.
  • The use of bronchodilators in bronchiolitis is controversial.
  • Understanding factors influencing bronchodilator response is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between patient age and bronchodilator responsiveness in infants diagnosed with bronchiolitis.
  • To determine if age influences the effectiveness of salbutamol in improving lung function in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Lung function was measured in 41 infants (2-18 months) with bronchiolitis before and after salbutamol.
  • Timed volumes (FEV0.5, FEV0.75, FEV1.0) were assessed using the raised volume rapid thoracoabdominal compression technique.
  • Significant bronchodilator response was defined by changes exceeding twice the within-subject coefficient of variation.

Main Results:

  • Overall, post-bronchodilator lung function did not significantly differ from baseline values for the study group.
  • A significant improvement in lung function was observed in 11 infants, while 3 showed decreased function.
  • No significant difference in mean age was found between infants with improved lung function and those without a significant response; age did not correlate with response magnitude.

Conclusions:

  • Bronchodilator responsiveness in infants suffering from bronchiolitis is not dependent on the infant's age.
  • These findings suggest that age is not a predictive factor for bronchodilator response in this clinical context.
Abstract

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