Relationship between symptoms and objective measures of airway obstruction in asthmatic patients

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 79 - 83
• Main Authors: Liam, C K, Goh, C T, Isahak, M, Lim, K H, Wong, C M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thailand The Allergy and Immunology Society 01.06.2001
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Airway Obstruction - complications; Airway Obstruction - diagnosis; Asthma - complications; Asthma - epidemiology; Asthma - physiopathology; Bronchodilator Agents - therapeutic use; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume - drug effects; Forced Expiratory Volume - physiology; Humans; Malaysia - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate - drug effects; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate - physiology; Predictive Value of Tests; Severity of Illness Index; Spirometry; Surveys and Questionnaires; Malaysia
• ISSN: 0125-877X

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between asthma symptoms and the degree of airway obstruction as measured by the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in a group of 64 asthmatic patients with clinically stable disease attending a university-based urban asthma clinic. Asthma symptoms did not correlate with the degree of airway obstruction as measured by prebronchodilator PEFR (total asthma symptom score vs PEFR: r = -0.214, p = 0.104, n = 59) and only correlated poorly with prebronchodilator FEV1 (total asthma symptom score vs FEV1: r = -0.256, p = 0.041, n = 64). These results lend support to the recommendation that airway obstruction should be measured objectively when assessing patients with chronic persistent asthma.