4081 Association between respiratory symptoms and exhaled nitric oxide in Afghanistan

Saturday, 17 October 2015
Hall D1 Foyer (Floor 3) (Coex Convention Center)

Woo Kyung KIM, MD, PhD , Pediatics, Seoul Paik Hospital/Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Hae-Sun Yoon, MD, PhD , Seoul Paik Hospital/ Inje University, Seoul, South Korea

Woo Kyung KIM, MD, PhD , Pediatics, Seoul Paik Hospital/Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Hae-Sun Yoon, MD, PhD , Seoul Paik Hospital/ Inje University, Seoul, South Korea

Background: Epidemiological studies mainly from USA, the Europe, and Asia indicate a high prevalence of asthma. However, little is known about asthma among the population of the Afghanistan. In the patients with asthma have high levels of exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FeNO). We aimed comparing with respiratory symptoms and FeNO and lung function test in Afghanistan.

Methods: Respiratory symptoms were assessed by a pulmonology physician (n=117). The FeNo was measured by NIOX MINO device (Aerocrine AB, Solna, Sweden). Lung function was examined by a portable spirometer and airway hyper-resposiveness. Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), blood eosinophils were assessed at the same time.

Results: Respiratory symptoms were cough (100%), dyspnea (88%), wheezing at the physical exam (56%). Lower FEV1 (p<0.0001) and higher FeNO values (P=0.001) were observed in Afghanistan. Between blood eosinophil counts and FeNO did not show association.

Conclusions: This is the first study was performed in Afghanistan people. Respiratory symptoms and FeNo had association in Afghanistan. In future more subjects enroll and environmental factor are needed.