Reduced expiratory variability index (EVI) is associated with controller medication withdrawal and symptoms in wheezy children aged 1-5 years

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (PAI), 2020

Authors: Ville-Pekka Seppä, Marita Paassilta, Juho Kivistö, Anton Hult, Jari Viik, Javier Gracia-Tabuenca, Jussi Karjalainen

Lung function testing is an essential part of diagnostic workup and monitoring of asthma, but young children are lacking easy, routine testing methods. However, recent discoveries show reduced tidal breathing variability measured using impedance pneumography (IP) at home during sleep as a sign of airway obstruction. In this study we assessed 1) the discriminative capacity of expiratory variability index (EVI) between healthy controls and young children with recurrent wheeze on and off controller medication, 2) association between EVI and parentally perceived obstructive symptoms (need for bronchodilator), and 3) measurement success rate.

EVI was lower in patients than controls and it reduced further after controller medication withdrawal, especially in presence of parentally perceived wheeze symptoms. This technique shows a significant potential for routine lung function testing of wheezy young children.

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