Reference values for peak flow and FEV1 variation in healthy schoolchildren using home spirometry

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Respiratory Physiology
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Current reference values for diurnal peak flow variation in children are based on unreliable written peak flow diaries.
• These existing values show significant overlap with those of asthmatic children, limiting diagnostic accuracy.
• There is a need for more accurate methods to assess lung function variation in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reliable reference values for diurnal peak flow and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) variation in healthy schoolchildren.
• To compare these values with those obtained using traditional methods.
• To propose new cut-off values for disease detection using home spirometry.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 204 healthy schoolchildren (ages 6-16) participated in the study.
• Participants used an electronic home spirometer to measure peak flow and FEV(1) twice daily for two weeks.
• Data were electronically stored for precise calculation of diurnal variation as a percentage of the day's mean.

Main Results:

• The mean peak flow variation in healthy children was found to be 6.2% (95th percentile 12.3%).
• The mean FEV(1) variation was 5.7% (95th percentile 11.8%).
• These results indicate considerably less variation than previously reported using written diaries.

Conclusions:

• Home spirometry with electronic data storage provides more reliable reference values for lung function variation in children.
• The study suggests new cut-off values: 12.3% for peak flow variation and 11.8% for FEV(1) variation, for disease detection.
• These findings can improve the diagnosis and management of respiratory diseases in children.