Bronchial responsiveness to dry air hyperventilation in smokers may predict decline in airway status using indirect methods.
BACKGROUND
Disabling respiratory symptoms and rapid decline of lung function may occur in susceptible tobacco smokers. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) elicited by direct challenge methods predicts worse lung function outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether BHR to isocapnic hyperventilation of dry air (IHDA) was associated with rapid deterioration in airway status and respiratory symptoms.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-eight smokers and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals with no history of smoking were investigated. All subjects completed a questionnaire. Spirometry and impulse oscillometry (IOS) measurements were recorded before and after 4 min of IHDA. The tests were repeated after 3 years in 102 smokers and 11 controls.


RESULTS
Eighty-five smokers (66 %) responded to the challenge with a ≥2.4-Hz increase in resonant frequency (F res), the cutoff limit defining BHR, as recorded by IOS. They had higher F res at baseline compared to nonresponding smokers [12.8 ± 3.2 vs. 11.5 ± 3.4 Hz (p < 0.05)] and lower FEV1 [83 ± 13 vs. 89 ± 13 % predicted (p < 0.05)]. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that wheezing (odds ratio = 3.7, p < 0.01) and coughing (odds ratio = 8.1, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with hyperresponsiveness. An increase in F res was recorded after 3 years in responding smokers but not in nonresponders or controls. The difference remained when subjects with COPD were excluded.


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of hyperresponsive smokers was unexpectedly high and there was a close association between wheezing and coughing and BHR. Only BHR could discriminate smokers with rapid deterioration of airway status from others.
Department of Clinical Physiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, 551 85, Sweden. peter.blomstrand@lj.se
Peter
P
Blomstrand
Susanne
S
Ekedahl
Birgitta
B
Schmekel
D000368:Aged; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009991:Oscillometry; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity