Bgm. Kolnaar et al., THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS AND BRONCHIAL HYPERRESPONSIVENESS IN A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE OF ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG-ADULTS, Respiratory medicine, 89(2), 1995, pp. 93-100
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiac & Cardiovascular System","Respiratory System
Objectives: to study the relationship between chronic respiratory symp
toms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in adolescence and young
adulthood and to assess the possible predictive value of these symptom
s for BHR. Methods: a cross-sectional analysis: in a population sample
of 551 subjects aged 10-23 years, data collected with a standardized
questionnaire on respiratory symptoms were compared with the results o
f a histamine challenge test. Results: 43% of the subjects reported on
e or more chronic respiratory symptoms; of these subjects 54% did not
show BHR. Forty-two per cent of the subjects had a PC20 less than or e
qual to 8.0 mg ml(-1) histamine, of which 53% reported no chronic resp
iratory symptoms. Wheezing and breathlessness were related to the leve
l of BHR, but only 'breathless when walking on the flat' was independe
ntly related to BHR; however, its predicted value for BHR was negligib
le. Conclusions: in adolescents and young adults the relationship betw
een chronic respiratory symptoms and BHR is incomplete. A standardized
questionnaire on respiratory symptoms does not provide adequate infor
mation to discriminate between those with and without BHR.