Wheeze is an unreliable endpoint for bronchial methacholine challenges in preschool children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Onset of wheeze is the endpoint often used in the determination of a positive bronchial challenge test (BCT) in young children who cannot perform spirometry. We sought to assess several clinical endpoints at the time of a positive BCT in young children with recurrent wheeze compared to findings in school-aged children with asthma.

Methods

Positive BCT was defined in: (1) preschool children (n = 22) as either persistent cough, wheeze, fall in oxygen saturation (SpO₂ ) of ≥5%, or ≥50% increase in respiratory rate (RR) from baseline; and (2) school-aged children (n = 22) as the concentration of methacholine (MCh) required to elicit a 20% decline in FEV₁ (PC₂₀ ).

Results

All preschool children (mean age 3.4 years) had a positive

SUBMITTER: Stewart L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9325539 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature