Brenda Carla Lima Araújo1,2,3, Silvia de Magalhães Simões4,5, Vanessa Tavares de Gois-Santos5,6, Paulo Ricardo Saquete Martins-Filho5,6. 1. Department of Speech Therapy, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil. brendaaraujo@yahoo.com.br. 2. Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Rua Cláudio Batista, s/n. Bairro Sanatório, Aracaju, SE, 49060-100, Brazil. brendaaraujo@yahoo.com.br. 3. Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil. brendaaraujo@yahoo.com.br. 4. Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil. 5. Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Rua Cláudio Batista, s/n. Bairro Sanatório, Aracaju, SE, 49060-100, Brazil. 6. Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the association between asthma and mouth breathing. We performed a systematic search in the PubMed, SCOPUS, Lilacs, Web of Science, Google Scholar and OpenThesis databases. RECENT FINDINGS: Asthma is defined as a heterogeneous disease characterized by variable symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest oppression and/or cough, and limitation of expiratory airflow. Although several studies have examined the association between asthma and mouth breathing, there are no systematic reviews or meta-analyses that synthesize the available bodies of evidence. We used the odds ratio as a measure of the association between asthma and mouth breathing. Summary estimates were calculated using random-effects models, and the risk of bias was estimated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for case-control studies and the National Institutes of Health tool for cross-sectional studies. Nine studies were included in the present systematic review. Data from 12,147 subjects were analyzed, of which 2083 were children and adolescents and 10,064 were adults. We found an association between mouth breathing and asthma in children and adolescents (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.78-3.39) and in adults (OR 4.60, 95% CI 1.49-14.20). However, limitations were found in the methodological description of the included studies, as well as high heterogeneity among studies evaluating adult populations. This meta-analysis showed an association between mouth breathing and asthma in children, adolescents and adults, but the results should be interpreted with caution. Further studies with standardized criteria for the investigation of mouth breathing are needed.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the association between asthma and mouth breathing. We performed a systematic search in the PubMed, SCOPUS, Lilacs, Web of Science, Google Scholar and OpenThesis databases. RECENT FINDINGS:Asthma is defined as a heterogeneous disease characterized by variable symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest oppression and/or cough, and limitation of expiratory airflow. Although several studies have examined the association between asthma and mouth breathing, there are no systematic reviews or meta-analyses that synthesize the available bodies of evidence. We used the odds ratio as a measure of the association between asthma and mouth breathing. Summary estimates were calculated using random-effects models, and the risk of bias was estimated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for case-control studies and the National Institutes of Health tool for cross-sectional studies. Nine studies were included in the present systematic review. Data from 12,147 subjects were analyzed, of which 2083 were children and adolescents and 10,064 were adults. We found an association between mouth breathing and asthma in children and adolescents (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.78-3.39) and in adults (OR 4.60, 95% CI 1.49-14.20). However, limitations were found in the methodological description of the included studies, as well as high heterogeneity among studies evaluating adult populations. This meta-analysis showed an association between mouth breathing and asthma in children, adolescents and adults, but the results should be interpreted with caution. Further studies with standardized criteria for the investigation of mouth breathing are needed.