RISKA: Assessment of Methacholine Responsiveness in School Children With and Without Asthma - A Comparative Observational Study

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to compare airway responsiveness and lung function in school children aged 7 to 15 years with and without asthma. It includes children with well-controlled asthma, those who need increased asthma medication, and healthy controls with no recent asthma symptoms or medication. The study evaluates differences in airway hyperresponsiveness and exhaled nitric oxide levels among these groups, also examining how age, allergen sensitization, and blood eosinophil levels relate to airway responsiveness. Participants include children diagnosed with asthma who are on inhaled corticosteroids, divided into groups based on asthma control and medication needs, and healthy controls without asthma diagnosis or recent symptoms. Healthy controls undergo a telephone interview before the study visit to confirm eligibility. During the visit, participants complete background and asthma questionnaires, a methacholine challenge test to measure airway hyperresponsiveness, and an exhaled nitric oxide test. For asthma patients requiring medication adjustment, a follow-up telephone interview is conducted 1 to 2 months after medication changes. Participants will be assessed during a single study visit where lung function tests and questionnaires are completed. Researchers will measure airway hyperresponsiveness using the methacholine challenge and exhaled nitric oxide levels. Data regarding age, allergen sensitization, and blood eosinophils will also be collected. Consent will be sought to allow future contact during a 15-year storage period of study data for follow-up questionnaires. The study is expected to continue until the end of 2027.

Methacholine Challenge Test in School Children With/Without Asthma RISKA