Effects of different inhalant allergens on lung functions in adult patients with bronchial asthma

Abstract

Abstract Objective To analyze the effects of different types of inhalant allergens on the lung functions of adult patients with bronchial asthma. Methods This cross‐sectional study included a total of 47 adults diagnosed with bronchial asthma at the Respiratory Outpatient Department of Tianjin First Central Hospital. Patients were divided into non‐sensitized and sensitized groups based on the number of positive allergens detected and classified into four groups (the dust mite mixed group, animal dander mixed group, pollen‐mixed group, and mold mixed group) based on the type of positive allergen detected. They were tested for the serum concentration of allergen‐specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) using a fluorescence immunoassay analyzer, and lung function was assessed using a pulmonary function testing machine. One‐way analysis of variance was used to compare normally distributed data, while the rank sum test was utilized for non‐normally distributed data. Results There was no statistically significant difference in lung function indicators between these two groups (p > .05). There were statistically significant differences in forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of the predicted value (FEV1%pred) (p = .028), FEV1/forced vital capacity as a percentage of the predicted value; (FVC%pred) (p = .016), peak expiratory flow as a percentage of the predicted value (PEF%pred) (p = .001), forced expiratory flow at 50% of the predicted value of forced vital capacity (FEF50%pred) (p = .003), forced expiratory flow at 75% of the predicted value of forced vital capacity (FEF75%pred) (p = .023), and maximal midexpiratory flow (MM)EF75/25%pred (p = .002) among the four groups. The pollen‐mixed group had higher PEF%pred (pollen vs. animal dander, p = .067; pollen vs. dust‐mites, p = .008; pollen vs. molds, p = .001) and MMEF75/25%pred (pollen vs. animal dander, p = .048; pollen vs. dust‐mites, p = .003; pollen vs. molds, p = .001) than the other three groups. The pollen‐mixed group had higher FEF50%pred than the dust‐mites mixed group (p = .008) and molds‐mixed group (p = .001). The pollen‐mixed group had higher FEF75%pred (p = .005), FEV1%pred (p = .001), and FEV1/FVC%pred (p = .001) than the molds‐mixed group. Conclusion Different inhalant allergens had different effects on lung functions in adults with asthma.

Keywords

• adult patients
• bronchial asthma
• inhalant allergens
• lung function