Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: The difference in rib slope between asthma patients and non-asthmatics is a fresh and intriguing finding. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an asthma patient's decreased horizontal rib curve on a chest radiograph represents a distinctive characteristic. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of the chest radiographs of 57 cases of asthma who were admitted between January 2011 and February 2011, and 57 non-asthma patients was performed. Chest radiographs were examined and lines drawn horizontally through the middle point of the sixth rib, and to where the sixth rib reaches the thoracic cage. The angle between these two lines was defined as the angle of rib curve (ARC). The ARCs were then compared between groups using the Student's t-test. Results: The asthma group consisted of 46 males and 54 females with a mean age of 49.3 years. The non-asthma group consisted of 56 males and 44 females with a mean age of 37.5 years. The ARC was smaller in asthma patients than in non-asthma patients. In the asthma group, the mean male ARC was smaller than the mean female ARC; however, there was no statistical difference in gender in the non-asthma group (P = 0.405) Conclusions: The current photographic trait may be helpful in daily practice for suspecting a diagnosis of bronchial asthma.