Assessment of autonomic dysfunction in bronchial asthma patients

Introduction: Many aspects of airway functions are controlled by autonomic nerves. Bronchospasm, airway edema and excessive mucus secretion may occur due to abnormality in autonomic regulation of airways. All these events lead to airway obstruction in bronchial asthma. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the autonomic functions between bronchial asthma patients and normal controls. Materials and Methods: As per American Thoracic Society guidelines thirty bronchial asthma patients in the age group of 18-50 years were chosen. Thirty age and sex matched controls were chosen for comparison. Standardized autonomic function tests were done. Statistical analysis was done using students unpaired t’ test. Results: Significantly higher basal heart rate was found in asthmatics in comparison with controls. Parasympathetic function tests showed significantly higher values in asthmatics compared with controls. Statistically significant difference is also found in the sympathetic function tests between asthmatics and normal controls. Conclusion: Our study shows that autonomic dysfunction is present in asthmatic patients. Parasympathic activity is enhanced in asthmatics, thus supporting the hypothesis of enhanced parasympathetic reactivity as an integral factor in pathophysiology of bronchial asthma.