Oscillometry for the diagnosis of asthma in children: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosing asthma in children and young people (CYP) remains challenging. Oscillometry is a promising tool and is feasible from 2 years of age. European Respiratory Society (ERS) technical standards and bronchodilator response (BDR) oscillometry thresholds have been published, but diagnostic accuracy is not established. METHODS: ) or >80% decrease in the area under the reactance curve); secondary aims were to identify oscillometry threshold values optimising both sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: had sensitivity and specificity of 73.6% (95% CI 71.9-75.3%) for MCT. CONCLUSION: Currently recommended ERS thresholds for oscillometry BDR have low sensitivity. Proposed thresholds for defining positive BDR and MCT by oscillometry require prospective validation and adoption of standards for measuring and reporting oscillometry parameters in future diagnostic comparative studies.