Original scientific paper

Seasonal trend of airway resistance in asthma

Tajana Jalušić Glunčić ; Klinika za plućne bolesti Jordanovac, Kabinet za rehabilitaciju disanja

Abstract

Aim: To demonstrate that in well-controlled asthma with stable spirometric values, the values of airway resistance (Raw) vary depending on climatic conditions.
Subjects and methods: This study included 42 patients with well-controlled asthma aged 18-77 years.
Spirometry and body plethysmography wasbmeasuredbin all patients, 4 times during the year – in October, February, May and August, as typical representatives of the different seasons. Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with obstruction in spirometry and patients with normal spirometry.
Results: The analysis results showed that with stable spirometric values (FVC – forced vital capacity, FEV1 – forced expiratory volume in first sec, FEF50 – expiratory flow at 50% VC) changes in Raw existed.
Values varied depending on the season. In August and February, values of Raw decreased, and in October and May values increased. These trends were confirmed in 78.57% patients.
Conclusion: It is possible that Raw is dependent on climatic conditions. The summer and winter seasons
are stable, unlike spring and autumn, where there are fluctuations in temperature, humidity, barometric pressure. Long-term weather fluctuations affect the variability of Raw. Stable time with uniform parameters (summer, winter) reduces the value of Raw, in contrast to unstable weather (spring and autumn), where Raw increases. Raw could be a useful parameter in monitoring long-term stability control of diseases, as FEV1 is a current indicator of the degree of obstruction.

Keywords

asthma; airway resistance-Raw; climate change

Hrčak ID:

100542

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/100542

Publication date:

23.4.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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