Key result
Childhood bronchial asthma is linked to worse global RV function compared to healthy controls.
Why the study?
Asthma is known to cause right ventricular dysfunction, but not much is known about this effect among children with the highest burden of asthma.
Does bronchial asthma impair right ventricular systolic and global functions in children compared to healthy controls?
Cross-Sectional (n=138)
No
Does bronchial asthma impair right ventricular systolic and global functions in children compared to healthy controls?
Absolute Event Rate: 0.56% vs 0.5%
p-value: p=0.007
Children with bronchial asthma exhibit global right ventricular dysfunction compared to healthy controls, as evidenced by a higher Tei index, suggesting the need for optimal asthma control to preserve cardiac function.
Global RV dysfunction may be more prevalent in children with asthma; leaves open whether echocardiography screening alters management.
Background Asthma is the most prevalent chronic airway condition in children. It is characterised by hyperresponsiveness of the small airways leading to airway narrowing, which is usually reversible, with or without treatment. Asthma is known to cause right ventricular dysfunction, but not much is known of this effect among children with highest burden of asthma. The aim of this study is to compare the right ventricular functions of children with asthma, aged 6– ≤ 13 years, with those of their age and sex-matched apparently healthy control using transthoracic echocardiography. The systolic and global right ventricular functions were assessed using Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Function (TAPSE) and Tei index, respectively. Results Seventy cases and 68 controls were included in the final analysis of the results. The male-to-female ratios are 1.9:1 and 2:1 for the cases and controls, respectively, and their mean age were 8.82 (± 2.28) and 9.05 (2.50) years. There was no statistically significant difference between their sex ( X² X 2 /P = 0.810/0.85) and their mean age (P = 0.554). The mean TAPSE of the cases (20.16 ± 2.15 mm) and the controls (20.28 ± 2.71 mm) did not differ significantly (P = 0.74), but the mean Tei index of the cases (0.56 ± 0.16) was significantly higher than that of the control (0.50 ± 0.10) (P = 0.007). Among the asthmatics, 17.1% (12/70) and 2.9% (2/70) had global and systolic RV dysfunctions, respectively; 2.9% (2/70) of the controls had RV global dysfunctions, but none had RV systolic dysfunction. The global dysfunction among the asthmatics was significantly associated with their age range and frequency of hospitalisation ( X² X 2 /p of 6.051/0.014 and 7.209/0.021, respectively), and significantly correlates with their Body Mass Index, and peripheral oxygen saturation (r/P of −0.236/0.049 and − 2.490/0.038, respectively). None of the participants had right ventricular systolic dysfunction. Conclusion This study shows that asthmatic patients have global RV dysfunction, and it is suggested that better control of asthma would preserve cardiac function.
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Abubakar et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Bronchial asthma (n=138). Bronchial asthma vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Global right ventricular function (Tei index) (p=0.007). Children with bronchial asthma exhibited significantly worse global right ventricular function compared to healthy controls, as evidenced by a higher mean Tei index (0.56 vs 0.50, p=0.007).
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