Degree of Airway Obstruction and Contributing Factors, Exploring Potential Mismatches and Pitfalls

BACKGROUND: The study investigates asthma, a chronic inflammatory respiratory condition that poses diagnostic challenges due to its variable symptoms, highlighting the importance of accurate documentation and interpretation. It aims to explore the demographic and clinical profiles of asthma patients, particularly focusing on the relationships among airway obstruction severity, spirometric measurements, atopic history, and family history to reveal the complex factors influencing asthma. AIMS: Employing a retrospective descriptive-analytic design, the research analyzes medical records of 107 patients treated at the Outpatient Installation of the Lung Polyclinic at Wlingi General Hospital in Blitar Regency from 2021 to 2022. The analysis incorporates descriptive statistics for demographic and clinical variables alongside Spearman correlation tests. METHOD: Results indicate a significant prevalence of smoking history among asthma patients, with 22.4% being active smokers and 52.3% passive smokers; however, no significant correlation with asthma control was found. Environmental risk factors such as dust and cold air were common but did not consistently correlate with asthma exacerbations. Spirometric analysis revealed a significant relationship between airway obstruction severity and parameters like FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, FEF 25, FEF 50, and FEF 75, emphasizing the link between airflow obstruction and reduced lung function. Furthermore, no significant correlation was observed between stable asthma diagnosis and atopic or family history, suggesting that asthma control is influenced by various complex factors. CONCLUSION: Our research reveals critical pitfalls in the current understanding of asthma, advocating for a comprehensive evaluation of all contributing factors to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy. Recognizing these complexities is essential for improving asthma management and ensuring better health outcomes for patients.