[Does common asthma show intercritical functional anomalies?]

During an epidemiological survey conducted in 1985, we performed spirometric examinations in a group of 133 asthmatic subjects and a group of 168 control subjects. After standardization for sex, height and age, mean FEV1 values were lower in asthmatics than in control subjects and decreased when the frequency of asthma attacks increased. Thus, from observations gathered in asthmatics identified by a questionnaire during a field study, we can confirm previous conclusions drawn from outpatients clinics: most of the time, asymptomatic asthmatics demonstrate an airflow limitation.