TY - JOUR T1 - Assessing paediatric exercise-induced bronchoconstriction using electromyography JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00298-2019 VL - 6 IS - 2 SP - 00298-2019 AU - Pascal B. Keijzer AU - Mattiènne R. van der Kamp AU - Boony J. Thio AU - Frans H.C. de Jongh AU - Jean M.M. Driessen Y1 - 2020/04/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/6/2/00298-2019.abstract N2 - Background Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood, occurring in up to 10% of all children. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is indicative of uncontrolled asthma and can be assessed using an exercise challenge test (ECT). However, this test requires children to undergo demanding repetitive forced breathing manoeuvres. We aimed to study the electrical activity of the diaphragm using surface electromyography (EMG) as an alternative measure to assess EIB.Methods Forty-two children suspected of EIB performed an ECT wearing a portable EMG amplifier. EIB was defined as a fall in FEV1 of more than 13%. Children performed spirometry before exercise, and at 1, 3 and 6 min after exercise until the nadir FEV1 was attained and after the use of a bronchodilator. EMG measurements were obtained between spirometry measurements.Results Twenty out of 42 children were diagnosed with EIB. EMG peak amplitudes measured at the diaphragm increased significantly more in children with EIB; 4.85 μV (1.82–7.84), compared to children without EIB; 0.20 μV (−0.10–0.54), (p<0.001) at the lowest FEV1 post-exercise. Furthermore, the increase in EMG peak amplitude could accurately distinguish between EIB and non-EIB using a cut-off of 1.15 μV (sensitivity 95%, specificity 91%).Conclusion EMG measurements of the diaphragm are strongly related to the FEV1 and can accurately identify EIB. EMG measurements are a less invasive, effort-independent measure to assess EIB and could be an alternative when spirometry is not feasible.An increase in muscular activity of the diaphragm is strongly related to the decrease in FEV1 in a standard exercise challenge test and can be used to diagnose exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in children https://bit.ly/2KFLwmS ER -