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Measurement of respiratory system resistance by forced oscillation in normal children: a comparison with spirometric
P Lebecque1, K Desmond, Y Swartebroeckx
1Cliniques St. Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Bruxelles, Belgium.
Insights
The forced oscillation technique effectively measures respiratory system resistance in children aged 3-18. This method is particularly useful for young children who cannot perform standard pulmonary function tests.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Assessing respiratory system resistance (Rrs) in children is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring lung diseases.
- Conventional pulmonary function tests often require cooperation that young children cannot provide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of the forced oscillation technique for measuring Rrs in a pediatric population.
- To establish reference values for Rrs in healthy children using this method.
Main Methods:
- Respiratory system resistance was measured using the Siregnost FD-5 device at 10 Hz in 377 children aged 3-18 years.
- A subset of 335 children underwent conventional pulmonary function testing and completed a detailed questionnaire.
- The study analyzed the relationship between Rrs and height, and investigated the influence of environmental and familial factors.
Main Results:
- A linear relationship was observed between Rrs and height (Rrs = 13.9-0.064 x ht (cm), r = -0.87).
- The forced oscillation technique was well-tolerated by children under 6 years of age.
- Factors such as household smoking, bedroom carpets, and atopic family history did not significantly influence Rrs.
Conclusions:
- The forced oscillation technique is a reliable and feasible method for measuring Rrs in children, including those too young for conventional testing.
- This technique provides valuable data for pediatric respiratory health assessment.
- Established reference values can aid in the interpretation of Rrs measurements in children.
Abstract:
In 377 children, the commercially available Siregnost FD-5 was used to measure respiratory system resistance (Rrs) by forced oscillation at 10 Hz. The children were between 3 and 18 years of age and, by a detailed questionnaire and conventional pulmonary function testing in 335, they were shown to be representative of the normal pediatric population. There was a linear relationship between Rrs and height (Rrs = 13.9-0.064 x ht (cm), r = -0.87). Children less than 6 years of age had no trouble with using the forced oscillation technique. The smoking of tobacco in the house, the presence of carpets in the child's bedroom, or an atopic family history, alone or in combination, had no influence on Rrs or on any spirometric measure. Forced oscillation is useful in children too young to be able to cooperate with conventional pulmonary function testing.