Background: It is necessary to evaluate the severity of asthma exacerbations for subjective symptoms and objective indicators. When patients cannot perform spirometry, oscillometry is a surrogate test.
Objective: We assessed the usefulness of oscillometry for the evaluation of treatment responsiveness in patients with asthma exacerbations.
Methods: The subjects included 21 consecutive patients with asthma exacerbations. Symptomatic responses, oscillometry, and spirometry (if possible) were assessed before and after treatment with corticosteroids and aminophylline.
Results: After treatment, all of the patients were allowed to return home and had no hospital visits. Oscillometry was feasible in all patients; however, spirometry could not be performed in 9 patients. Overall, there was a significant improvement in wheezing scores and oscillometric parameters, but not in FEV1 after treatment. The thresholds for a positive bronchodilator response in oscillometry were observed in 4 or more patients, while the minimal clinically important differences in FEV1 were observed in one patient.
Conclusion: Oscillometry can detect improvements that cannot.
Keywords: Asthma; Exacerbations; Oscillometry; Spirometry.
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