English

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Ventilatory function tests provide a better understanding of functional changes in the lungs and they are significant from the viewpoint of diagnosis, so factors contributing to their variation within the population need to be identified, assessed and the appropriate allowances made. There have been reports on the variations of PEFR with anthropometric determinants, however, data regarding study of PEFR with various anthropometric factors in different age groups is lacking. AIMS: The present study was therefore done to observe the Correlation of peak expiratory flow rate with anthropometric determinants in healthy adult male population of Haryana. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Peak expiratory flow rate was measured using mini Wright peak flow meter in 150 healthy subjects of same socioeconomic status. The correlations of PEFR with Age, height, weight and chest circumference were calculated in healthy younger (20- 34yrs) and older (35-49yrs) adult males. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The obtained data were analyzed statistically with the help of IBM SPSS VERSION.20. RESULT: In this study the mean PEFR was found to have statistically significant (p≤ 0.05) positive correlation with the height, weight and chest circumference in younger males whereas noticeable fluctuations were observed in their older counterparts. Maximum values of PEFR were attained in the age group of 25-29yrs after which it showed a declining trend with advancing age. CONCLUSION: PEFR correlates more with height, weight and chest circumference in young adult males than in older males. Respiratory function indices collected from healthy young adult males may be more reliable and predictable than those from older ones.