Utility of Impulse Oscillometry in Monitoring the Effects of Pollution and Tobacco in Children and Adolescents

Alberto Vidal

Published on: 2025-05-10

Abstract

Exposure to environmental pollution, prenatal or passive smoking affects lung function in healthy children, adolescents, or those with chronic respiratory diseases. Spirometry is the most widely used method to measure the magnitude of the sequelae caused by these conditions in children. However, spirometry is not sufficiently sensitive to detect the alterations caused by polluting particles that enter the peripheral airway. Impulse oscillometry is a lung function method used in children and adolescents that could provide more information regarding the degree of peripheral airway compromise caused by environmental pollution prenatal or passive smoking in the medium and long term.