significance of spirometry in bronchial asthma

ABSTRACT

To assess the behavior and usefulness of FEV[1%], FEF[25%] FEF[50%], and FEF[75%], in bronchial asthma and to determine the effect of age, sex and smoking on the PFTs used in the follow up of bronchial asthma. Retrospective study of the data from 104 patients with bronchial asthma. The study was performed at Ibn Sena Teaching Hospital, at the pulmonary function tests unit, Mosul. One hundred and four patients with bronchial asthma, 60 males and 44 females. Their ages ranging from 11 to 71 years. The inclusion criteria and case definition of the patients depended on clinical diagnosis of asthma and on Spirometric tests; all patients performed FEV[1%], FEF[25%], FEF[50%], and FEF[75%]. The analysis of variance, the calculated[F] and the tabulated[F] values were utilized to detect any statistically significant difference between the studied variables. The Duncan range tests were used to see which pulmonary function test is the best for the diagnosis of asthma. In the patients examined the percentages of predicted values of FEV[1%], FEF[25%], FEF[50%], and FEF[75%] are [84.8, 20, 33.6 and 52.3 respectively]. The analysis of variance indicates a statistically significant difference between the studied variables as the calculated [F] value is 168.78 which is more than the tabulated [F] value at 0.05 which is 2.01. Further analysis of the results by Duncan range test showed that FEV[1%] is the leading test followed by FEF[75%] then FEF[25%] is trailing the last. Age has an inverse relation with FEF[25%], FEF[50%]. Female sex proved to have an inverse relation with FEF[75%] only. While smoking has no effect on the various PFT's. This study confirms that there is a decrease in the values of FEV[1%], FEF[75%], FEF[50%] and FEF[25%] with age. Furthermore it confirms that FEV[1%], FEF[75%], FEF[50%] and FEF[25%] are still valid and sensitive tests for the follow-up of bronchial asthma, also indicates that there is an inverse relationship between female sex and FEF[75%]. Smoking surprisingly shows no effect