DERANGEMENTS OF PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS;

Arterial blood gases in asthmatics after exercise

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma is one of the commonest diseases not only in Pakistan but also worldwide. Study Design: This is
cross-sectional analytical study. Settings: The study was carried out at Chest Department Civil Hospital Faisalabad. Duration: (Six
months) Sep 2011 to Feb 2012. Material and methods: The effects of exercise in asthmatic patients as revealed by their pulmonary
function tests(PFT’s) and arterial blood gas(ABG) analysis.: Total sixty male subjects having age from thirty to forty years were included.
They were divided into experimental and control groups, each consisting of thirty cases. In experimental group all asthmatic patients were
included who have been diagnosed six months earlier. Results: The results of PFT’s and ABG were recorded and compared, during pre
and post exercise periods. At rest there was non-significant difference of PFT’s and ABG in two groups. After six minutes exercise on
bicycle-ergometer ,there was a significant decrease in Forced Expiratory Volume during first second (FEV , P=0.026), Forced vital 1
capacity( FVC, P=0.036) , Partial Pressure of Oxygen (PaO ,P=0.036) and Partial Pressure of Carbondiaoxide (PaCO ,P=0.020) in 2 2
asthmatics. Conclusions: We concluded that in response to exercise challenge in asthmatics, PFT’s have more precision for assessment
than ABG.