Overview of Spirometry and the Use of Its Parameters for Asthma Monitoring in Children

Abstract

Asthma is the most common chronic pulmonary disease in the world, affecting more than three hundred million people from different races and age groups. Childhood asthma is considered one of the main causes of increased healthcare expenditures, particularly in developing countries. Spirometry is the most essential and commonly used lung function test. It is used mainly for the evaluation of lung function to obtain reliable data used for the detection of lung diseases, such as asthma, as well as for monitoring lung health. The two spirometry parameters, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), are effective in the diagnosis and management of patients with asthma. However, FEV1 is preferred as it is a more accurate parameter compared to PEFR for the evaluation and recognition of bronchoconstriction. In children with asthma, the most commonly used lung function parameter for asthma monitoring is FEV1. It was discovered that a decrease in FEV1 is associated with an increase in asthma severity.