Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
Volume 164, Number 7, October 2001, 1150-1153
Predictors for the Severity of Bronchial Hyperreactivity
in Childhood Asthma
NERIN N.
BAHCECILER,
CIGDEM
ARIKAN,
TUNC
AKKOC,
and
ISIL B.
BARLAN
Marmara University Hospital, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Division, Istanbul, Turkey
Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) is a common characteristic of
asthma and is shown to be a risk factor in the development and outcome of asthma. In this study, we aimed to assess the risk factors at referral for the severity of BHR, which was determined at
the end of a mean of 3 yr of follow-up in 98 children with asthma
[mean (± SD) age, 11.0 (± 3.4) yr, male/female = 50/48]. We also
evaluated the cross-sectional risk factors for the severity of BHR in
the observed children. Information on risk factors at referral was
collected from the computer records of the patients followed by
an end-of-study visit. Lung function, skin-prick, and bronchial
provocation tests were done and total serum IgE level was measured on this visit. The relationship between BHR and risk factors
was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. A lower
level of FEV1 % at referral was found to be an important predictor
of more severe BHR at the end of the follow-up. None of the other
risk factors evaluated predicted the severity of current BHR. We
concluded that decreased lung function at referral is associated
with a more severe BHR determined at the end of a 3-yr follow-up
in children with asthma.
