Abstract

Background & Aims: The peripheral parts of the lung are known as the main place of airflow obstruction in asthmatic patients; but the symptoms of asthma with the location of airway obstruction are still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between asthma symptoms and severity of asthma and proximal and distal airways using function tests.

Materials & Methods: Ninety-two asthma patients who were diagnosed on the basis of ATS criteria were enrolled in this study.  After full history and physical examination, asthma symptoms and asthma severity was measured for each patient using asthma control test (ACT provided by GINA). Impulse oscillometry and lung volume studies (using body- plethysmograph and IOS both provide by Jaeger, Germany) were performed. Total Airway Resistance (TAWR) indicated by resistance at 5Hz and Central Airway Resistance (CAWR) were indicated by resistance at 20 Hz. The relationship between the presence of asthma symptoms, post nasal discharge, ACT score and parameters of lung function were analyzed.

Results: Clinical asthma symptoms such as cough, dyspnea, wheezing, postnasal drip (PND) with distal and proximal airway parameters of pulmonary function tests didn’t correlate. (P=0.05). Cough were found in 59.8% of patients with uncontrolled asthma (ACT score≤19) and 40.2% of controlled asthma (ACT score≥20) patients.  There was a significant associationwith asthmaseverity (Value=0.02). Other asthma symptoms such as dyspnea, wheezing, postnasal drip (PND) with clinical asthma severity had no significant correlation with degree of changes in distal and proximal pulmonary airway function test parameters (P=0.05).

Conclusion: Clinical symptoms of asthma could not differentiate the prominent site of airway involvement.

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2016: 26(10): 907 ISSN: 1027-3727