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The relationship between airway responsiveness to histamine and pulmonary function level in a random population
B Rijcken1, J P Schouten, S T Weiss
1Department of Epidemiology, State University of Groningen, Netherlands.
The American Review of Respiratory Disease
|April 1, 1988
Summary
Nonspecific bronchial responsiveness (BR) is linked to lower pulmonary function levels in adults. This association between BR and FEV1 remains significant even after accounting for other factors like age and smoking.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Pulmonary Physiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Nonspecific bronchial responsiveness (BR) is a key feature in various respiratory conditions.
- Understanding the relationship between BR and overall pulmonary function is crucial for assessing respiratory health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between nonspecific bronchial responsiveness (BR) and pulmonary function levels in a general population.
- To determine if BR is an independent predictor of pulmonary function, adjusting for confounding factors.
Main Methods:
- A random population sample of 2,156 subjects (15-64 years) from the Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen COPD survey participated.
- Bronchial responsiveness was assessed using histamine challenge, with PC10 defined as the concentration causing a 10% decrease in FEV1.
- Linear regression analyses were performed, adjusting for age, sex, residence, smoking habits, and respiratory symptoms.
Main Results:
- Approximately 25% of subjects exhibited significant BR (PC10 ≤ 16 mg/ml).
- A dose-response relationship was observed: higher responsiveness correlated with lower mean FEV1.
- Adjusted analyses showed that male and female responders had significantly lower FEV1 (32.5 and 30.5 centiliters, respectively) compared to non-responders.
Conclusions:
- Nonspecific bronchial responsiveness is a significant and independent predictor of pulmonary function level.
- The findings highlight the importance of assessing BR in the context of overall lung health and COPD risk.
- Cigarette smoking had a significant impact on pulmonary function primarily in men over 21 years old.