Pulmonary function investigations on 1011 school children using Wright's Peak Flow meter.

Abstract

By means of Wright's Peak Flow Meter, the expiratory peak flow rate (PFR) was measured in 1011 school children aged 7 to 17 years. Of these, 779 had no objective signs or histories of disease in the respiratory organs. This group was considered as a normal material. The normal biological variation of PFR in children was investigated for correlation to sex, age, height, and weight. The best common correlation for both sex was PFR = 5.10 × height in cm −425, and a minor sex variation of this equation was observed. The remainder of the children either had colds or had previously suffered from disease in the respiratory organs but were now symptom-free. These groups were compared with the normal material and had lower PFR values than the healthy children.