title: [Ventilatory function and bronchial responsiveness in army recruits].
abstract: Lung function and determination of the bronchial responsiveness to methacholine were performed in two groups of Swiss army recruits aged 20 years (total 233), where 144 had respiratory complaints or a history of prior asthma and 89 were asymptomatic, among whom 26 had recently suffered from upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). A bronchial obstruction (ratio FEV1/FVC less than 73%) was observed among 6% of the subjects with symptoms, 6% of the asymptomatic control subjects and 4% in the group with recent URTI. The differences are not significant. A bronchial hyperresponsiveness (defined as PD20 less than 900 mcg) was observed in 45% of the symptomatic subjects (54% in 109 recruits complaining of dyspnea on exertion) against 3% in the control group (p less than 0.001) and 12% in the group with recent URTI (NS, p = 0.14). Among subjects complaining of dyspnea on exertion, more than half have an obvious bronchial hyperresponsiveness at a level usually observed in asthmatics, most of them without any clinical finding or permanent bronchial obstruction. Although the sensitivity of the determination of bronchial responsiveness is low (47%) its specificity is high (97%). The test allows detection of some subjects with asthma among young subjects complaining of respiratory troubles in spite of normal clinical examination and lung function. A normal level of bronchial responsiveness practically excludes asthma.
authors.affiliation: Division de pneumologie, CHUV, Lausanne.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zellweger
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fitting
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology
vernacular_title: Fonction ventilatoire et réactivité bronchique des recrues.