Lung function (the ratio of time to peak expiratory flow/total expiratory time (tPTEF/tE)) in 54 children with recurrent bronchial obstruction (rBO) and 15 controls
| ICS+ | ICS− | rBO | Controls | |
| Subjects n | 21 | 33 | 54 | 15 |
| First visit | ||||
| Baseline | 0.17 (0.15–0.20)# | 0.23 (0.19–0.28) | 0.21 (0.18–0.24) | 0.34 (0.28–0.41)*** |
| Post | 0.23 (0.17–0.28) | 0.29 (0.23–0.36) | 0.27 (0.22–0.32) | 0.32 (0.23–0.40) |
| Bronchodilator responsiveness % | 55.7 (28.5–82.8) | 53.8 (11.7–95.8) | 54.5 (29.9–80.1) | −1.46 (−21.8–18.9) |
| Second visit | ||||
| Baseline | 0.23 (0.18–0.28) | 0.27 (0.24–0.31) | 0.26 (0.23–0.29) | 0.33 (0.27–0.38)¶ |
| Post | 0.28 (0.21–0.34) | 0.29 (0.24–0.33) | 0.28 (0.24–0.33) | 0.31 (0.25–0.36) |
| Bronchodilator responsiveness % | 26.1 (2.0–50.1) | 18.7 (−1.6–39.0) | 21.6 (6.6–36.5) | −1.50 (−14.3–11.3) |
Data are presented as mean (95% confidence interval)
ICS+: children who received inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) by 2 yrs of age
ICS−: children who did not receive ICS by 2 yrs of age
baseline: prebronchodilator values
post: postbronchodilator values
#: p<0.03, comparing ICS+ and ICS− children
***: p<0.001, ¶: p<0.03, comparing all cases to controls
The change in lung function from inclusion to 2 yrs of age approached statistical significance in the ICS+ children (p=0.06), but not the ICS− and control children