Premium
Determinants of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in healthy men and women from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey III
Author(s) -
Nerpin Elisabet,
Olivieri Mario,
Gislason Thorainn,
Olin Anna C.,
Nielsen Rune,
Johannessen Ane,
Ferreira Diogenes S.,
Marcon Alessandro,
Cazzoletti Lucia,
Accordini Simone,
Pin Isabelle,
Corsico Angelo,
Demoly Pascal,
Weyler Joost,
Nowak Dennis,
Jõgi Rain,
Forsberg Bertil,
Zock Jan P.,
Sigsgaard Torben,
Heinric Joachim,
Bono Roberto,
Leynaert Bénédicte,
Jarvis Deborah,
Janson Christer,
Malinovschi Anderi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/cea.13394
Subject(s) - exhaled nitric oxide , quartile , medicine , exhalation , asthma , respiratory system , biomarker , gastroenterology , demography , spirometry , biology , confidence interval , biochemistry , radiology , sociology
The fractional exhaled nitric oxide ( F E NO ) is a marker for type 2 inflammation used in diagnostics and management of asthma. In order to use F E NO as a reliable biomarker, it is important to investigate factors that influence F E NO in healthy individuals. Men have higher levels of F E NO than women, but it is unclear whether determinants of F E NO differ by sex. Objective To identify determinants of F E NO in men and women without lung diseases. Method Fractional exhaled nitric oxide was validly measured in 3881 healthy subjects that had answered the main questionnaire of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey III without airways or lung disease. Results Exhaled NO levels were 21.3% higher in men compared with women P < 0.001. Being in the upper age quartile (60.3‐67.6 years), men had 19.2 ppb (95% CI : 18.3, 20.2) higher F E NO than subjects in the lowest age quartile (39.7‐48.3 years) P = 0.02. Women in the two highest age quartiles (54.6‐60.2 and 60.3‐67.6 years) had 15.4 ppb (14.7, 16.2), P = 0.03 and 16.4 ppb (15.6, 17.1), P = <0.001 higher F E NO , compared with the lowest age quartile. Height was related to 8% higher F E NO level in men ( P < 0.001) and 5% higher F E NO levels in women ( P = 0.008). Men who smoked had 37% lower F E NO levels and women had 30% lower levels compared with never‐smokers ( P < 0.001 for both). Men and women sensitized to both grass and perennial allergens had higher F E NO levels compared with non‐sensitized subjects 26% and 29%, P < 0.001 for both. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels were higher in men than women. Similar effects of current smoking, height, and IgE sensitization were found in both sexes. F E NO started increasing at lower age in women than in men, suggesting that interpretation of F E NO levels in adults aged over 50 years should take into account age and sex.