Abstract
Introduction: Documentation of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) variability may be used to support the diagnosis of asthma and other respiratory disorders. Methodology: This study was carried to measure PEFR of 510 children age group 9 to 12 years of both sexes using a Mini WrightTM Peak Flow Meter. Results were analyzed to find out the normal values of peak expiratory flow rate at each age and either sex. The results were also analyzed to find out what factors influence the peak expiratory flow rate. Effect of age, sex, height, weight, chest circumference, socioeconomic status, passive smoking, cooking fuel, history of contact with tuberculosis and bronchial asthma in family were analyzed separately. Results: The average peak expiratory flow rate in boys was 272±53.16 L/min and for girls was 252±45.09 L/min. For the given age boys have higher peak expiratory flow rate than girls. The peak expiratory flow rate shows very good correlation with height and weight in both sexes. A History of contact with tuberculosis is associated with lower peak expiratory flow rate. Children coming from homes with firewood being used as a fuel and passive smoking had lower peak expiratory flow-rate. No significant relation has been found between peak expiratory flow rate and socioeconomic status and family history of bronchial asthma. Conclusions:The peak expiratory flow rate values of children in study region were comparatively low to those of North Indian and Western children but more compared to urban south Indian children.
Highlights
Documentation of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) variability may be used to support the diagnosis of asthma and other respiratory disorders
Socioeconomic status (Kuppuswamy’s Classification) [6], history of contact with tuberculosis, history of passive smoking, family history of bronchial asthma and family history of chronic illness were recorded in Performa
It was observed that PEFR increases with age and the increase is statistically significant in all age groups (Table1)
Summary
Documentation of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) variability may be used to support the diagnosis of asthma and other respiratory disorders. Results were analyzed to find out the normal values of peak expiratory flow rate at each age and either sex. The results were analyzed to find out what factors influence the peak expiratory flow rate. Results: The average peak expiratory flow rate in boys was 272±53.16 L/min and for girls was 252±45.09 L/min. For the given age boys have higher peak expiratory flow rate than girls. A History of contact with tuberculosis is associated with lower peak expiratory flow rate. Children coming from homes with firewood being used as a fuel and passive smoking had lower peak expiratory flow-rate. No significant relation has been found between peak expiratory flow rate and socioeconomic status and family history of bronchial asthma. The measurement of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) remains a valuable indicator of pulmonary function. Peak expiratory flow rate is a reliable way of judging the degree of airway obstruction in various
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