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Growth and other factors affecting peak expiratory flow in Greek children

V Aivazis1, A Hatzimichail, J Stavridis

  • 11st Pediatric Clinic, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece. aivazis@med,auth.gr

Minerva Pediatrica
|June 30, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Peak expiratory flow (PEF) estimation in children is crucial for monitoring lung function. This study found height is a key factor in accurately estimating PEF in healthy Greek children aged 6-17.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Biometrics in Children

Background:

  • Peak expiratory flow (PEF) is a practical measure of lung function in children.
  • Accurate PEF assessment aids in diagnosing and managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • Establishing normative data is essential for interpreting PEF values in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish reference values for Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) in healthy Greek children.
  • To investigate the correlation of PEF with anthropometric factors including age, weight, height, and triceps skinfold thickness.
  • To determine the optimal parameters for PEF estimation in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 7,067 healthy Greek children aged 6-17 years.
  • Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) was measured using a Mini-Wright flowmeter.
  • Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, triceps skinfold) were recorded and correlated with PEF.

Main Results:

  • PEF values were generally higher in boys than girls, except between ages 12-13.
  • A strong correlation between PEF and age was observed up to 11 years.
  • Height showed a significant correlation with PEF (P<0.001) in older children, while weight and skinfold thickness did not show significant correlations.
  • Considerable variation in PEF was noted based on height within age and sex groups.

Conclusions:

  • Height is a critical factor for accurate PEF estimation in children.
  • The study provides normative PEF values and percentiles for Greek children.
  • These findings recommend the use of height-adjusted PEF values for clinical assessment in this population.
Abstract

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