We previously showed that impulse oscillometry (IOS) indices of peripheral airway function are associated with asthma control in children. However, little data exist on whether dysfunction in the peripheral airways can predict loss of asthma control.

We sought to determine the utility of peripheral airway impairment, as measured by IOS, in predicting loss of asthma control in children.

Fifty-four children (age, 7-17 years) with controlled asthma were enrolled in the study. Spirometric and IOS indices of airway function were obtained at baseline and at a follow-up visit 8 to 12 weeks later. Physicians who were blinded to the IOS measurements assessed asthma control (National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines) on both visits and prescribed no medication change between visits.

Thirty-eight (70%) patients maintained asthma control between 2 visits (group C-C), and 16 patients had asthma that became uncontrolled on the follow-up visit (group C-UC). There was no difference in baseline spirometric results between the C-C and C-UC groups, except for FEV₁/forced vital capacity ratio (86% vs 82%, respectively; P < .01). Baseline IOS results, including resistance of the respiratory system at 5 Hz (R5; 6.4 vs 4.3 cm H₂O · L⁻¹ · s), frequency dependence of resistance (difference of R5 and resistance of the respiratory system at 20 Hz [R5-20]; 2.0 vs 0.7 cm H₂O · L⁻¹ · s), and reactance area (13.1 vs 4.1 cm H₂O · L⁻¹), of group C-UC were significantly higher than those of group C-C (P < .01). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed baseline R5-20 and reactance area effectively predicted asthma control status at the follow-up visit (area under the curve, 0.91 and 0.90).

Children with controlled asthma who have increased peripheral airway IOS indices are at risk of losing asthma control.