Domiciliary monitoring of lung function

PEFR measurements have been shown to be useful in lung function monitoring on patients in a hospital and in a domiciliary setting. In this study the unpredictable lability was found to be unrelated to the level of compliance. In order words, PEFR was found to be of little use in monitoring compliance. On the other hand, changes in PEFR may be invaluable in monitoring changes in treatment, the level of activity, or exposure to different allergens or sensitising chemicals. The value of PEFR may be demonstrated in industry where it may be used to support a cause and effect relationship between environmental exposures and worsening of asthma. The cause of day to day and diurnal lability in the lung function of apparently stable asthmatics remains to be determined. However the trend towards an association of PEFR lability with non specific airway responsiveness suggests the latter might be a determinant.