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What Long-Term Changes in Lung Function Can Tell Us About Asthma Control

  • Asthma (WJ Calhoun and S Peters, Section Editors)
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Abstract

Asthma severity is typically classified according to lung function, but asthma control in relation to lung function is often harder to define. In this paper, we will review how lung function measured at rest, as well as over time, relates to asthma control. We will explore not only conventional lung function as measured by spirometry, such as peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume in 1 s, but also more sophisticated measurements of peripheral airway function related to respiratory system impedance and ventilation heterogeneity. In particular, we will review the emerging area of assessing the fluctuation of lung function over time and how it may correlate to both past and future asthma control.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Kaminsky and Dr. Irvin have declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Given D213, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    David A. Kaminsky

  2. Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, HSRF 226, 149 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    Charles G. Irvin

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  1. David A. Kaminsky
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Correspondence to David A. Kaminsky.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Asthma

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Kaminsky, D.A., Irvin, C.G. What Long-Term Changes in Lung Function Can Tell Us About Asthma Control. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 15, 3 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-014-0505-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-014-0505-x

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