Abstract

FONSECA, João; MARTINS, Carla  and  PEREIRA, Ana Margarida. Gender influences the association between impulse oscillometry parameters and asthma control assessed by questionnaire. Rev Port Imunoalergologia [online]. 2014, vol.22, n.2, pp.113-124. ISSN 0871-9721.

Background: Control questionnaires and impulse oscillometry (IOS) evaluate different components of the clinical status of patients with asthma. Objectives: 1) to describe oscillometric parameters and results of the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) in a consecutive series of patients with asthma and 2) to evaluate the association between oscillometric parameters and disease control in these patients. Methods: This retrospective, observational study analysed all adult patients who performed IOS and filled in CARAT in the lung function laboratory of the Allergology Division of a University hospital in Portugal. Data collected included total respiratory impedance (Z5), lung resistance at 5 and 20Hz (R5 and R20 respectively), reactance at 5Hz (X5), resonant frequency (Rf) and reactance area (AX). Medical diagnoses were collected from the attending physician’s clinical records. Control of asthma and rhinitis (AR) was defined as CARAT total score (CARAT-T) >24; upper airways (UA) control if CARAT-UA> 8; lower airways (LA) control if CARAT -LA>15. Results: Overall, 111 individuals, with a mean (±SD) age of 47 (±18) years, were included; 76% (84) were female. AR was not controlled in 78% (87), LA was not controlled in 71% (79) and all reported uncontrolled UA. IOS parameters showed a significant moderate correlation with CARAT-T and CARAT-LA scores, but only in males (r(R5)= -0,450 and r(R20)= -0.491 for CARAT-T; and r(R5)= -0,536 and r(R20)= -0,506 for CARAT-LA). Conclusion: Gender is a major influence in the relationship between measures of self-control assessment and objective parameters of respiratory physiology.

Keywords : Asthma; CARAT; control; impulse oscillometry; questionnaires.

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