Predictive value of monitoring expiratory peak flow rates in hospitalized adult asthma patients.

This prospective single-blind study monitored the progress and outcome of 18 hospitalized asthmatic patients on intravenous corticosteroids by daily peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measurements to determine whether daily flow monitoring was useful as a guide for predicting response to therapy over the short- and long-term course posthospitalization. Daily monitoring of PEFR was helpful in demonstrating the response to therapy during hospitalization and at follow-up visit (1 to 2 weeks) posthospitalization. This change in PEFR during acute hospitalization and at initial follow-up visit did not correlate well with relapse or repeat hospitalization during the 5- to 17-month follow-up period.