Bronchodilator effect on maximal breath-hold time in patients with obstructive lung disease.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To identify the role of bronchodilators in the maximal breath-hold time in patients with obstructive lung disease (OLD).

METHODS:

We conducted a case-control study including patients with OLD and a control group. Spirometric tests were performed prior to and after the use of a bronchodilator, as were breath-hold tests, using an electronic microprocessor and a pneumotachograph as a flow transducer. Respiratory flow curves were displayed in real time on a portable computer. The maximal breath-hold times at end-inspiratory volume and at end-expiratory volume (BHTmaxV EI and BHTmaxV EE, respectively) were determined from the acquired signal.

RESULTS:

A total of 35 patients with OLD and 16 controls were included. Prior to the use of a bronchodilator, the BHTmaxV EI was significantly lower in the OLD group than in the control group (22.27 ± 11.81 s vs. 31.45 ± 15.73 s; p = 0.025), although there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the post-bronchodilator values (24.94 ± 12.89 s vs. 31.67 ± 17.53 s). In contrast, BHTmaxV EE values were significantly lower in the OLD group than in the control group, in the pre- and post-bronchodilator tests (16.88 ± 6.58 s vs. 22.09 ± 7.95 s; p = 0.017; and 21.22 ± 9.37 s vs. 28.53 ± 12.46 s; p = 0.024, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results provide additional evidence of the clinical usefulness of the breath-hold test in the assessment of pulmonary function and add to the existing knowledge regarding the role of the bronchodilator in this test.

• Authors: Raqueli Biscayno Viecili, Paulo Roberto Stefani Sanches, Denise Rossato Silva, Danton Pereira da Silva, André Frota Muller, Sergio Saldanha Menna Barreto
• Journal: Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia : publicacao oficial da Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisilogia (J Bras Pneumol) 2011 Nov-Dec Vol. 37 Issue 6 Pg. 745-51 ISSN: 1806-3756 [Electronic] Brazil
• PMID: 22241031 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Bronchodilator Agents

Topics

• Bronchodilator Agents (adverse effects)
• Case-Control Studies
• Forced Expiratory Flow Rates (drug effects)
• Humans
• Lung Diseases, Obstructive (physiopathology)
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Respiration (drug effects)
• Time Factors