Abstract
BackgroundAlthough infant lung function (ILF) testing is widely practiced in developed Western countries it is not typically performed in Eastern countries, and lung measurements are scarce for Asian infants. Therefore, this study aimed to establish normal reference values for Taiwanese infants.Materials and MethodsFull-term infants without any chronic diseases and major anomalies were enrolled in the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese Children (PATCH) cohort study. Detailed medical data, such as body weight and length, birth history, and histories of previous illness and hospitalization were recorded. Lung function measurements such as analysis of tidal breathing, passive respiratory mechanics, and forced tidal expiratory flow-volume curves were obtained through Jaeger Masterscreen BabyBody Paediatrics System. Multiple linear analyses were performed to determine various parameters of the lung function tests.ResultsILF test parameters were collected from 126 infants, and 189 tests were performed. The results revealed that the ratio of time to peak expiratory flow to total expiratory time, the ratio of volume to peak expiratory flow to total expiratory volume, and the ratio of inspiratory time to total respiratory time remained relatively constant despite differences in age. However, body length is the strongest independent variable influencing tidal volume, respiratory rate, resistance, compliance, and maximal expiratory flow at functional residual capacity.ConclusionAccording to our review of relevant literature, this is the first study to establish a reference data of ILF tests in the Asian population. This study provided reference values and regression equations for several variables of lung function measurements in healthy infants aged less than 2 years. With these race-specific reference data, ILF can more precisely and efficiently diagnose respiratory diseases in infants of Chinese ethnicity.
Highlights
Infant lung function (ILF) has been widely used for research and clinical practices in Western countries
Infant lung function (ILF) testing is widely practiced in developed Western countries it is not typically performed in Eastern countries, and lung measurements are scarce for Asian infants
Detailed medical data, such as body weight and length, birth history, and histories of previous illness and hospitalization were recorded. Lung function measurements such as analysis of tidal breathing, passive respiratory mechanics, and forced tidal expiratory flow-volume curves were obtained through Jaeger Masterscreen BabyBody Paediatrics System
Summary
Infant lung function (ILF) has been widely used for research and clinical practices in Western countries. The American Thoracic Society/ European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) task force has developed clinical practice guidelines for ILF [5,6,7]; multiple reference equations have been developed [8,9,10,11]. The general applicability of these reference equations remains disputed in settings where equipment- [12] and ethnicity-specific differences might occur [13,14]. No reference data are available for infants of Asian ethnicity. Establishing equipment- and ethnicity-specific reference equations of IFT for the Asian population should improve interpretation of both clinical and research studies. Infant lung function (ILF) testing is widely practiced in developed Western countries it is not typically performed in Eastern countries, and lung measurements are scarce for Asian infants. This study aimed to establish normal reference values for Taiwanese infants
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