All issues > Volume 34(4); 1991

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1991;34(4):487-496. Published online April 30, 1991.

A study of predicted values of peak expiratory flow rates in primary school children.

Jie Sun Yoon¹, Eun Young Choi¹, Hey Sun Lee¹, Young Min Ahn¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Kangnam General Hospital Public Corporation, Seoul, Korea

Received: July 27, 1990;  Accepted: November 22, 1990.

Abstract

Peak expiratoy flow rate was especially useful parameter in the condition., management or prediction of children asthma and other obstructive pulmonary disease. The purpose of this study had been to obtain the predicted values for primary school children, compared peak expiratory flow rates using Miniwright peak flow meter with Wright peak flow meter and compared present study with previous study. We measured peak expiratory flow rate of 517 boys and 496 girls in one primary school in Seoul with the use of Miniwright peak flow meter and Wright peak flow meter and calculated the linear regression equation and correlation coefficients according to sex, age, height, weight and body surface. The results were as follows; 1) Height was a more reliable index of pulmonary function test than other parameters. WP=4.83 Ht-358.63 (r=0.80, p<0.001) MP=4,11 Ht-245.29 (r=0.70, p<0.001) 2) After standardizing for height, peak expiratory flow rate was found to increase with age. There was a significant difference between boys and girls. WP:Male:-232.66+3.14 Ht+11.88 Age Female:—232.664-3.14 Ht+9.88 Age MP:Male:-132.07+2.60 Ht+10.94 Age Female:—132.074-2.60 Ht+8.11 Age 3) Comparison between peak expiratory flow rates obtained using a Miniwright peak flow meter and a Wright peak flow meter showed a highly significant correlation (r=0.86), but the Miniwright peak flow meter gave consistently higher results. The difference was 20 Z/min (19.55±1.98 //min: 95% confidence interval).

Keywords :Peak expiratory flow rate;Miniwright peak flow meter;Wright peak flow meter