Exhaled nitric oxide in a population sample of adults.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and the diagnosis of asthma in the general adult population is not completely clear.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between FENO and asthma, after controlling for atopy and rhinitis, in a general population sample of adults (mean age 43 years).


METHODS
The cohort of subjects was a sample of subjects who gave their consent to participate in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II study.


RESULTS
Atopy, rhinitis and current asthma were positively and current smoking was negatively associated with FENO. Multivariate analysis showed that asthma had a significant predictive effect on FENO (beta = 0.53; 95% CI 0.21-0.84, p = 0.001), and the increase in FENO was significantly associated with the risk of current asthma (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.00-1.14) by the logistic regression model. Receiver-operator characteristic curve showed that FENO >or=18.5 ppb had the best combination of sensitivity (69.2%) and specificity (71%), with a positive predictive value of 24% and a negative predictive value of 95%, for the diagnosis of asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
Measuring FENO seems to be suitable as an adjunct to questionnaire in the evaluation of asthma in the general population.
Bommarito
Luisa
L
Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Turin and Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy.
Migliore
Enrica
E
Bugiani
Massimiliano
M
Heffler
Enrico
E
Guida
Giuseppe
G
Bucca
Caterina
C
de Marco
Roberto
R
Rolla
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012372:ROC Curve; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
D009569:Nitric Oxide