Quality of life and inflammatory markers in mild asthma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between quality of life and measures of asthma, such as lung function, reversibility to bronchodilation, exhaled nitric oxide (NO), and bronchial responsiveness to direct and indirect stimulus in patients with mild asthma in a primary care setting.


METHODS
Seventy-seven asthmatic patients not treated with glucocorticosteroids completed the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. Spirometry was performed before and after bronchodilation, and bronchial challenges with methacholine and eucapnic dry air hyperventilation were conducted on separate days. NO in exhaled air and serum IgE were also analyzed.


RESULTS
We found no correlation between quality of life and any of the other parameters. There was a significant covariation between exhaled NO and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine and dry air, and also between FEV(1) (percentage of predicted) and reversibility to a bronchodilator. The levels of exhaled NO were higher in the asthmatic subjects with atopy than in the nonatopic asthmatics.


CONCLUSIONS
The measures used in our study do not reflect health-related quality of life in subjects with mild asthma. We conclude that in the clinical situation, quality of life and other measures of asthma provide complementary information.
Ehrs
Per-Olof
PO
Unit of Lung and Allergy Research, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. poehrs@hotmail.com
Sundblad
Britt-Marie
BM
Larsson
Kjell
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D001944:Breath Tests; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009569:Nitric Oxide