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Updated: Nov 9, 2025
Conducting Respiratory Oscillometry in an Outpatient Setting
Published on: April 8, 2022
Abnormal iron status is independently associated with reduced oscillometric lung function in schoolchildren
Eun Kyo Ha1, Ju Hee Kim2, Eun Lee3
1Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Low serum iron levels in children are linked to airway dysfunction, suggesting reduced lung function may be associated with abnormal iron status. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Nutritional Science
- Environmental Health
Background:
- The link between anemia and allergic diseases is known, but the connection between iron deficiency and airway dysfunction in children is not well understood.
- Investigating iron status and lung function in schoolchildren is crucial for understanding pediatric respiratory health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between abnormal iron parameters and lung function in schoolchildren.
- To explore associations between iron status indicators and airway resistance and exhaled nitric oxide.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 445 schoolchildren aged 10-12 years.
- Lung function was assessed using impulse oscillometry (Rrs5, Rrs10, Rrs5-20) and exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO).
- Iron parameters (hemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, serum ferritin) were measured and analyzed alongside lung function, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- Reduced total airway dysfunction (Rrs5) was associated with low serum iron levels after adjusting for confounders.
- Decreased oscillometric lung function (Rrs5-20) showed inconsistent associations with low serum iron and high serum ferritin.
- No significant correlation was found between lung function and serum hemoglobin levels.
Conclusions:
- Decreased serum iron levels are related to airway dysfunction (Rrs5) in children.
- The findings suggest a potential link between abnormal iron status and reduced lung function in pediatric populations.
- Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms connecting iron status and respiratory health in children.
Background:
Associations between anemia and allergic diseases have been reported, but the relationship of iron deficiency with airway dysfunction in children remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between abnormal iron parameters and lung function in schoolchildren.
Methods:
Four hundred and forty-five children (10-12 years-old) from 11 elementary schools in were enrolled. The relationships of different iron parameters (hemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin) with lung function evaluated by impulse oscillometry (airways resistance at 5 Hz [Rrs5], 10 Hz [Rrs10], and the difference of Rrs5 and Rrs20 Hz [Rrs5-20]), and with exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were evaluated after adjustment for confounders including height, sex, and body mass index z-score, and for additional covariates that could affect airway function.
Results:
Total airway dysfunction represented by Rrs5 was reduced in participants with low serum iron level (aβ: -0.13, 95% CI: -0.23 to -0.03, p = 0.040) after adjustment for key confounders, but did not correlate with other iron profiles. Reduced oscillometric lung function recorded as Rrs5-20 was related with low serum iron and high serum ferritin, but the results were inconsistent after multiple comparisons. Associations were not observed with serum hemoglobin.
Conclusions:
Decreased serum iron level was related with airway dysfunction represented as oscillomteric Rrs5. Our results suggest a relationship of reduced lung function with abnormal iron status in children.
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