Median increase in lung function at 15 to 30 minutes after an acute asthma attack for homemade spacers v conventional spacers in children‡
| Disease severity | Outcomes | Conventional spacer (95% CI) | Sealed bottle (CI) | Unsealed bottle (CI) | Cup (CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ‡FVC = forced vital capacity; PEFR = peak expiratory flow rate. §Not significant. | |||||
| All children | FEV1 | 24% (14 to 37) | 20% (15 to 33) | 17% (10 to 34) | 13% (0 to 23) |
| FVC | 13% (6 to 20) | 13% (8 to 26) | 10% (4 to 23) | 5% (0 to 8) | |
| Mild to moderate obstruction | FEV1 | 37% (19 to 53) | 33% (18 to 55) | 18% (9 to 57) | 0% (–4 to 24)§ |
| PEFR | 59% (22 to 69) | 36% (21 to 102) | 21% (16 to 99) | 12% (–5 to 37)§ | |
| FVC | 17% (8 to 22) | 23% (14 to 36) | 18% (5 to 26) | 6% (–5 to 15)§ | |