Forced oscillation and childhood asthma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Monitoring asthma in children using the forced oscillation technique
IRAS ID
278875
Contact name
Erol Gaillard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leicester
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Diagnosing asthma is difficult, especially in young children.
In this study we will determine whether the novel non-invasive, quick and passive test 'forced oscillation technique (FOT)' test is useful to help in the diagnosis and monitoring of asthma.
In brief, participants are asked to breathe normally into the oscillometer for periods of approximately 20 seconds. Small-amplitude pressure oscillations are superimposed on normal breathing by the oscillometer and the mechanical response of the respiratory system (measured by changes in pressure and flow measured at the lips) can be expressed in terms of resistance and reactance. The test is simple, quick and not in any way uncomfortable or painful. It has been used in adults and (less frequently) in children, and the equipment is now commercially available. It is therefore timely to assess its role in diagnosis and monitoring of asthma in children.We will study different groups of children:
1. Uncontrolled asthma group: Children attending the UHL paediatric asthma clinics aged 2 to 15 years with uncontrolled asthma.
2. Acute asthma group: Children aged 2 to 15 years attending UHL emergency departments or wards with doctor diagnosed acute wheeze or asthma.
3. Control group: Children aged 2 to 15 years with no history of wheeze or chronic respiratory conditions.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/EE/0026
Date of REC Opinion
4 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion