Relationship Between Airway Obstruction and Respiratory Symptoms in Adult Asthmatics

摘要: Study objectives To characterize the relationship between symptoms and degree of airway obstruction as determined by FEV 1 peak expiratory flow (PEF) in a cohort adult patients attending university-based urban asthma clinic. Design Each six current symptoms, including cough, dyspnea, wheeze, chest tightness, sputum production, nocturnal awakening was rated on 0 (none) to 4 (constant) scale at initial first follow-up clinic evaluations. Spirometry PEF were measured visit all visits. Patients Sixty-seven with chronic asthma. Measurements results: Asthma did not correlate (percent predicted vs total symptoms: r=0.143; p=0.263; n=70) only correlated poorly r=0.384; p=0.0029; n=58). Subjective wheezing best individual predictor level this group patients. When reassessed an average 7.9 weeks later, reported significant improvement several those awakening. However, symptomatic associated obstruction. Conclusions PEF. Following treatment, subjective may occur without These results support recommendation measure objectively when assessing