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Conducting Respiratory Oscillometry in an Outpatient Setting
Published on: April 8, 2022
Evolutionary lung function evaluated by impulse oscillometry in preschoolers with asthma
Ramiro González Vera1, Mónica Saavedra Bentjerodt1, Alberto Vidal Grell1
1Centro de Enfermedades Respiratorias Pediátricas, Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Impulse oscillometry (IOS) in preschool children with asthma shows significant improvement after one year, especially in uncontrolled cases. However, lung function often remains altered, necessitating further research into asthma phenotypes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Asthma Research
Background:
- Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a valuable tool for assessing lung function in young children.
- Asthma affects a significant number of preschoolers, requiring effective monitoring methods.
- Understanding the longitudinal changes in lung function is crucial for managing pediatric asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe alterations and the one-year evolutionary profile of impulse oscillometry (IOS) in preschool children diagnosed with asthma.
- To evaluate changes in IOS parameters and bronchodilator responsiveness (BR) over a 12-month period.
- To investigate the influence of asthma control status and atopy on IOS changes.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-two preschool children with asthma underwent IOS at baseline and after one year.
- Comparisons were made for the proportion of altered IOS and positive bronchodilator response (BR+).
- Statistical analyses included McNemar's test and Student's t-test, with sub-analyses for asthma control and atopy.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of altered IOS decreased from 80.6% to 64.5% (p=0.04) over one year.
- Bronchodilator responsiveness (BR+) increased from 77.4% to 83.9%.
- Children with uncontrolled asthma showed significant improvements in X5 and D5-20, unlike those with controlled asthma. Atopic, uncontrolled asthmatics improved X5, AX, and D5-20.
Conclusions:
- Impulse oscillometry (IOS) reveals significant alterations in preschoolers with uncontrolled asthma, which lessen over a year but often persist.
- Bronchodilator responsiveness (BR+) remains prevalent, indicating ongoing airway obstruction.
- Further research is needed to identify distinct preschool asthma phenotypes and their treatment responses.
Introduction:
Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is useful for measuring lung function in preschool children. Our objec tive was to describe the alterations and evolutionary profile of IOS in asthmatic children under 6 years of age after one year of follow-up.
Patients And Method:
62 preschoolers performed IOS at the begin ning of the study and after one year. The proportion of altered IOS and bronchodilator response (BR +) at both times was compared, in addition to sub-analysis according to asthma control and presence of atopy. For the statistical analysis, we used McNemar's %2 and the Student's t-test with a 5% a error.
Results:
The initial IOS was altered in 80.6% and in 64.5%% after one year (p = 0.04). 77.4% of the children presented BR+ at the beginning of the study and 83.9% after one year. The uncontrolled asthma group presented a significant improvement in the X5 and D5-20 means, but the controlled asthma group did not. In atopic patients, only uncontrolled asthmatics improved X5, AX, and D5-20.
Conclusion:
IOS shows alterations in a high percentage of preschoolers with uncontrolled asthma, which decreases significantly at one year, but remains altered and with BR + in most children. Ad ditional studies are required to identify different preschool asthma phenotypes and their evolution with treatment.
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