Usefulness of home spirometry in childhood asthma

PhD Ceremony: dhr. A.F.J. Brouwer, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Usefulness of home spirometry in childhood asthma

Promotor(s): prof.dr. E.J. Duiverman, prof.dr. P.L.P. Brand

Faculty: Medical Sciences

Contact: via the UMCG, tel. 050-361 2200, e-mail: voorlichting bvl.umcg.nl

The studies in this thesis showed that the unreliability of written PEF diaries can be overcome by using home spirometry. However, the relationship of PEF and FEV1 variation to other indices of asthma severity (such as symptoms and lung function) was highly variable between patients, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. In addition, home spirometry had poor diagnostic value in identifying asthma in children with nonspecific respiratory symptoms such as cough and breathlessness. This thesis thus shows that the usefulness of home spirometry in childhood asthma, whether for monitoring disease severity or for making the diagnosis of asthma, is limited. We propose, therefore, to remove home spirometry as a diagnostic or monitoring tool for childhood asthma from asthma guidelines.