METHODS: This is a prospective, randomised, crossover, single-blinded study conducted from February 2018 to February 2019 among adult subjects attending respiratory clinic Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC).
RESULTS: Forty-six subjects were recruited with 27 males (58.7%). The mean age was 54 (+11) year old. The baseline median Body Mass Index (BMI) was 34.2 kg/m2 (Interquartile Range IQR: 30.8 kg/m2 -41.7 kg/m2); baseline median AHI 28.8 /hour (IQR 21.2/hour-54.0/hour); andbaseline median ESS 15 (IQR 13-16). After intervention, the median AHI was 5.0 / hour (IQR 4.2/hour-6.0/hour) at fixed CPAP arm; APAP arm was 5.5/ hour (IQR 4.2/hour-6.3/hour); p<0.01. The median ESS at fixed CPAP arm was 2 (IQR 0-3); APAP arm was 2 (IQR 1-3); p < 0.01. Those who preferred APAP were 22 subjects (47.8%) and had median optimal CPAP pressure 13.0 cmH2O (IQR 12.0 cmH2O -13.5 cmH2O); 24 subjects (52.2%) who preferred Fixed CPAP had median optimal CPAP pressure 8.0 cmH2O (IQR 6.3 cmH2O -8.7 cmH2O); p<0.01. Median baseline BMI was 37.6 kg/m2 (IQR 30.8 kg/m2 -43.0 kg/m2) for those who preferred APAP and 32.3 kg/m2 (IQR 30.8 kg/m2 - 38.4 kg/m2) for subjects preferred Fixed CPAP; p=0.03.
DISCUSSION: Fixed CPAP maybe considered as first line therapy for symptomatic moderate and severe OSA with titrated optimal CPAP pressure less than 8 cmH2O and BMI less than 32.3 kg/m2; based on subjects' preference. Baseline AHI and average daily CPAP usage was not statisticallysignificant in affecting patient preference between fixed and auto adjusting CPAP. This is the first study of its kind conducted in Malaysia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 82 asthmatic participants in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) conducted between December 2020 till January 2022. Participants performed pre- and post-bronchodilator IOS and spirometry within the same day. Correlation between spirometry and IOS parameters and FEF25%-75% with IOS were determined and analysed.
RESULTS: The change of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was statistically correlated with a change of R5 in IOS. A decrement of 14.5% in R5 can be correlated with positive bronchodilator response (BDR) with a sensitivity of 63.9% and specificity of 60.9%, p=0.007. Pre-bronchodilator FEF25%-75% correlated with all parameters of SAD in IOS, e.g., R5-R20, reactance at 5Hz (X5) and area of reactance (AX), p < 0.05. IOS detection for SAD is higher compared to FEF25%-75% in the BDR negative group (91.3% vs 58.7%).
CONCLUSION: IOS detected both bronchodilator reversibility and SAD hence can be considered as an alternative tool to spirometry for diagnosis of asthma in adults. IOS detected SAD more than FEF25%-75%, especially in BDR-negative group.