Study participants
We analyzed the data from children who had undergone the MCC at the
Department of Pediatric Allergy at the Children’s Hospital, University
of Bonn between January 2009 and December 2018. From an initial
population of 939 children, patients with an obstructive pattern, that
is baseline forced expiratory volume in one second
(FEV1) and/or FEV1/forced vital capacity
(FVC) ratio < 80% predicted, or relevant (≥200 mL or
≥12%) reversibility in executed spirometry (n = 712), were not
included. Furthermore, according to the established protocol in our
department, children with primarily exercise-induced symptoms underwent
exercise challenge testing before the MCC and those children who had
exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in the exercise challenge testing
were also excluded (n = 104). The data from 123 children were analyzed
(Fig.1).