Obstruction of airways is characteristic for both asthma and COPD. It can be measured with spirometric tests. The most important ventilatory parameter is forced expiratory volume in first second-FEV₁.The aim of our study was to characterise patients with severe asthma and COPD by ventilatory parameters after 3 years of observations. We examined 49 patients with asthma and 23 patients with COPD. We found an incomplete reversibility of airflow obstruction in 20 asthmatic patients,further analyses was performed for two asthmatics' groups with complete(CRAO) and incomplete reversibility of airflow obstruction(IRAO). In patients with IRAO ventilatory parameters were: mean FEV₁ - 1,8 l, FVC - 2,3 l, MEF 50 - 1,9 l/s, After 3 years FEV₁ decreased 180 ml. In patients with CRAO mean ventilatory parameters were FEV₁-1,6 l, FVC- 2,1 l, MEF 50 - 1,8 l/s. After 3 years FEV1 decreased by 70 ml. In COPD patients mean ventilatory parameters were FEV₁-1,2 l, FVC - 1,9 l, MEF 50 - 1,2 l/s. After 3 years FEV₁ decreased by 170 ml. Although in patients who did not smoke FEV₁ decreased less than in current smokers. In non-smokers FEV₁ decreased 130 ml and in smokers 200 ml. Thus in asthmatics with IRAO, the decrease of FEV₁ was similar to one observed in smokers with COPD, so we concluded the long treatment with corticosteroids in some patients with asthma did not stoppe the progress of the disease. It is also possible that in some asthma patients changes in airways characteristic for asthma coexisted with that characteristic for COPD.
Pneumonol. Alergol. Pol. 2005, 73, 142-147.