title: Effects of CPAP on clinical variables and autonomic modulation in children during an asthma attack.
abstract: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) causes changes in alveolar and intrathoracic pressure and the activation of pulmonary stretch receptors affects the balance of the autonomic nervous system. The acute effects of CPAP on autonomic modulation have been demonstrated in different diseases, but no studies have been carried out addressing CPAP in patients with asthma. The hypothesis tested in the present study is that CPAP can produce an autonomic effect beyond a mechanical effect of bronchial dilatation in children with asthma. The results demonstrated improvements in clinical variables and an increase in vagal tone with the administration of CPAP during an asthma attack, as demonstrated by a diminished respiratory rate and a reduction in signs of respiratory distress. Regarding autonomic modulation, an increase in parasympathetic variables was found, indicating non-cholinergic activation stemming from the persistent increase in peak flow.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Brazil. evelimgomes@uninove.br
authors.forename: Evelim Leal
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: de Freitas Dantas Gomes
authors.forename: Dirceu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Sandra Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Germano
authors.forename: Pâmela Vieira
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Luciana Maria Malosá
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome