The importance of post exercise peak expiratory flow rate & plasma IgE as a diagnostic tests for asthma among adult normal subjects & asthmatic patients

Abstract

Asthma can be classify as early onset or extrinsic asthma, which usually occur in atopic children and resolves in 80 %, and late onset or idiopathic non-atopic adult asthma, which is chronic in the majority of cases. Asthma also may develop because of exposure to dusts, organic materials, fumes and chemical substances in the working environment. The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence and risk factors of bronchial asthma among adult age groups. 1384 individuals were included in this cross section study. And also we took a control group (100 cases) from normal population and those without any respiratory diseases. Data collected was carried out during the period from September 18th 2002 to December 3rd 2002 in Al-Hijaj village in Bajii. The age range of study population was from 18 to 45 years. A cross sectional study that include total number of population equal to 1384. 760 (54.9%) were male and 624 (45.1%) were female. Asthma was diagnosed clinically in 104 cases (7.5 %) before or were newly diagnosed as a case of asthma. The asthmatic cases were common in male (66.3%) as compared to female (33.7%), this difference was statistically significant (P> 0.05). Measurement of mean of PEFR in asthmatic cases before exercise is 199.9 ± 51.2 while after exercise is 182.7 ± 49.7. This difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05). Measurement of mean of PEFR in risk group before exercise is 353.56 ± 33.62. While after exercise was 271.4 ± 34.36. This difference was highly statistically significant (P< 0.01). Moreover, in normal cases the mean of PEFR before exercise is 324.1 ± 41.3 while after exercise is 313.4 ± 45.76. This difference was not significant (P> 0.05). The reading of IgE measurement in asthmatic cases (104 cases). The mean is 343.81 ± 282.17 I.U. Also, the reading of IgE measurement in the risk group cases (125 cases) and the mean is 426.87 ± 293.6 I.U. This difference was statistically significant (P>0.05)