Abstract

LEOSound - A new device for long-term recording of wheezing and cough in pediatric and adult patients with asthma (during sleep)

Author(s): Ulrich Koehler, Olaf Hildebrandt, Andreas Weissflog, Angela Zacharasiewicz, Keywan Sohrabi, Niklas Koehler, Volker Gross

Children with asthma often have a decreased performance during the day because of night-time asthma symptoms. Asthma is still poorly controlled in more than 50% of patients despite the availability of very effective drugs. GINA defined criteria for asthma control include asking about daytime symptoms, limitation of activity, night-time symptoms/awakenings and need for reliever treatment. Standardized and validated questionnaires such as asthma control test (ACT) help to assess the level of asthma control. Approximately 30 to 40% of asthmatic children are affected by sleep disturbances. Asthma symptoms during night-time must be seen as a special feature of asthma. Computerized cough, wheeze and respiratory rate monitoring provides additional and objective information on current night-time symptoms. To reduce risk for children with asthma, control of night-time symptoms is important to improve respiratory function and quality of sleep.