Thorax deformity and asthma bronchial.

In patients with bronchial asthma thorax deformity aggravates the respiratory function. The authors performed follow up examinations on 381 young adults who suffered from bronchial asthma in childhood. Thorax deformities were was found in 70 patients (28 pectus excavatum, 8 pectus carinatum, 19 thorax emphysematicus . 15 other and combined deformities). Comparing the recovered and non-recovered asthmatic patients, the state of the ill one was significantly worse with regards to thorax deformity. In the seriously ill patients thorax deformities occurred significantly more frequently than in the total number of patients. In the thorax deformity group asthma had an earlier onset and lasted longer in comparison with the whole of patients studied. Bronchial hyperreactivity and lung function values referring to chronic obstruction were significantly more frequent in patients with thorax deformity. Investigating physical exercise, the ratio of patients pursuing some sporting activity was similar, i.e. 50%, both in the total patient group and in the group of patients with pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum, while 90% of the patients belonging to the thorax emphysematicus group did not pursue any physical training.