Exhaled breath condensate pH determinants in school-aged children: A population-based study

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Tiago Rama (Author) FMUP; Paciencia, I (Author) Other; Rufo, JC (Author) Other; Silva, D (Author) Other; Cunha, P (Author) Other; Severo, M (Author) Other; Padrão, Patrícia (Author) FCNAUP; Moreira, Pedro (Author) FCNAUP; Delgado, L (Author) Other; Moreira, André (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

ISSN: 0905-6157

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Associated Projects

ARIA - Como a qualidade do ar pode influenciar asma e alergia nas crianças

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-Y1F

DOI: 10.1111/pai.13564

Abstract (EN): Background Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH is a promising biomarker of airway inflammation. Lack of method standardization and interstudy variability precludes its use in clinical practice. While endogenous determinants have been described, underlying mechanisms for variability are mostly unknown. Thus, we aimed to assess the association between asthma and EBC pH in children, while studying potential environmental factors for interstudy variability. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of exhaled breath condensates from 613 children, aged 7-12 years, was conducted. Assessments included lung function and airway reversibility, exhaled nitric oxide, allergic sensitization, and body mass index (BMI). Indoor air quality (IAQ) was assessed in children's classrooms during 5 school days. Post-deaeration EBC pH showed a bimodal distribution, and the sample was split into acidic and alkaline groups. Regression models were constructed to assess the effects of asthma and asthma adjusted to IAQ parameters on EBC pH. Results Following adjustment to gender and BMI, asthma was significantly associated with a lower EBC pH in the acidic group. The effect of asthma on EBC pH was independent of IAQ, in both groups. In the acidic group, EBC pH was significantly affected by temperature [beta = -0.09 (-0.15, -0.02)] and PM 2.5 concentration [beta = -0.16 (-0.32, -0.01)], and in the alkaline group by relative humidity [beta = 0.07 (0.02, 0.13)] and concentration of endotoxins [beta = -0.06 (-0.1, -0.01)]. Conclusion Our study shows that in addition to individual determinants such as asthma, environmental factors may influence and should be taken into consideration when interpreting EBC pH level in children.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8