Diurnal Variation of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Healthy Young Adults of North East of India

Abstract

PEF measurement is a simple and easy procedure to evaluate and assess the degree of 24hrs variation (circadian) in lung function. Thus this study was undertaken to study the diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow (PEF) in 60 healthy non-smoking adults of Northeast, in the age group between 18-24 years. The PEFR (L/min) was measured with mini Wright’s peak flow meter for three times a day, morning, afternoon and evening. The diurnal variation was observed with lowest values in the morning followed by progressive rise peaking in the evening. Diurnal variation for individual subject was calculated by using amplitude percent mean (A%M). We conclude that a definite pattern of diurnal variation in PEF is seen in healthy population and its knowledge is important for meaningful interpretation of PEF recordings in disease condition.