17.11.2012 Views

sign101

sign101

sign101

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Table 8: Summary of tools that can be used to assess asthma<br />

Measurement Methodology<br />

Spirometry110, 111 Widely available.<br />

Enables clear<br />

demonstration of<br />

airflow obstruction.<br />

FEv largely<br />

1<br />

independent of<br />

effort and highly<br />

repeatable.<br />

Less applicable in<br />

acute severe asthma.<br />

Only assesses one<br />

aspect of the disease<br />

state.<br />

Can be achieved in<br />

children as young as<br />

five years.<br />

Peak expiratory<br />

flow (PEF) 88,91,92,<br />

112,834-836<br />

Widely available<br />

and simple.<br />

Applicable in a<br />

wide variety of<br />

circumstances<br />

including acute<br />

severe asthma.<br />

PEF variability can<br />

be determined from<br />

home readings in<br />

most patients.<br />

PEF effort dependent<br />

and not as<br />

repeatable as FEv . 1<br />

Measurement<br />

characteristics<br />

Normal ranges<br />

widely available and<br />

robust.<br />

In the short term<br />

(20 minute) 95%<br />

of repeat measures<br />

of FEv

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!