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Changes in the Breath Sound Spectrum with Bronchodilator Inhalation in Asthmatic Children with Long-term Management
Tomohiko Imamura, Mayumi Enseki, Hiroyuki Furuya
1Department of Pediatrics, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan. mochihi@tokai-u.jp.
Insights
Breath sound analysis reveals significant airway changes in well-controlled asthmatic children. This non-invasive method may aid in monitoring asthma management and airway condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Asthma management in children requires effective methods to assess airway condition, especially during periods of clinical stability.
- Traditional lung function tests may not fully capture subtle airway changes in well-controlled pediatric asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate airway reversibility in asthmatic children during periods of good health using a commercial breath sound analyzer.
- To evaluate the utility of breath sound parameters in assessing airway status in pediatric asthma.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed breath sound parameters including F99 and spectrum curve indices (A3/AT, B4/AT, RPF75, RPF50) in 34 children with asthma (age 6-16) with normal lung function.
- Measurements were taken before and after the inhalation of a short-acting beta-2 agonist.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in spectrum curve indices were observed post-bronchodilator, exceeding changes in impulse oscillometry (FOT) parameters.
- Changes in A3/AT and B4/AT showed significant correlations with specific FOT parameters (R5-R20 and X5).
Conclusions:
- Significant changes in breath sound parameters indicate airway reversibility even in well-controlled asthmatic children.
- Breath sound analysis shows promise as a valuable tool for monitoring airway status in the long-term management of pediatric asthma.
Objective:
Using a commercially available breath sound analyzer, the airway reversibility in asthmatic children during healthy periods was investigated.
Methods:
Fifty samples of 34 children with asthma (median age, 11 years; range, 6-16 years) who visited our hospital and whose lung function was normal were included. The breath sound parameters, the frequency limiting 99% of the power spectrum (F99) and spectrum curve indices, the total area under the curve of the dBm data (A3/AT and B4/AT) and the ratio of power and frequency at 50% and 75% of the highest frequency of the power spectrum (RPF75 and RPF50) were evaluated before and after β2 agonist inhalation.
Results:
The values of spectrum curve indices were significantly increased after β2 agonist inhalation. The changes in these parameters were more marked than the changes in the FOT parameters. The changes in A3/AT and B4/AT were significantly related to two FOT parameters: R5-R20 and X5.
Conclusions:
Our study suggested that significant changes in breath sound parameters were present in asthmatic children during the period of good control. A breath sound analysis may be useful for assessing the airway condition of asthmatic children during long-term management.
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