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Normal values for respiratory muscle strength in healthy preschoolers and school children

João Paulo Heinzmann-Filho1, Paula Cristina Vasconcellos Vidal, Marcus Herbert Jones

  • 1Graduate Program of Pediatrics and Children's Health, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul-PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Respiratory Medicine
|September 15, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Reference values for respiratory muscle strength in children aged 3-12 were established. Height and weight best predict maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), while age and weight predict maximal expiratory pressure (MEP).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Biometrics

Background:

  • Establishing normative data for respiratory muscle strength is crucial for assessing pediatric lung health.
  • Previous research has not comprehensively defined reference values for maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) in healthy children across a wide age range.
  • Understanding factors influencing respiratory muscle strength is essential for early detection of potential respiratory impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine reference values for respiratory muscle strength in healthy children aged three to twelve years.
  • To identify key anthropometric and demographic predictors of respiratory muscle strength in this pediatric population.
  • To provide a basis for clinical assessment and research in pediatric respiratory function.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 171 healthy children aged 3-12 years was recruited from three schools.
  • Respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP) was assessed by a single examiner following standardized pulmonary function test guidelines.
  • Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of MIP and MEP, with height, weight, and age as covariates.

Main Results:

  • Height and weight were identified as the strongest predictors for MIP in both sexes (R² = 46-58%).
  • Age and weight were the best predictors for MEP (R² = 46-58%).
  • Intraclass correlation coefficients confirmed excellent reproducibility of the respiratory pressure measurements in a subgroup.

Conclusions:

  • Respiratory muscle strength in healthy preschool and school-aged children is significantly influenced by age, height, and weight.
  • The established reference values and predictive models provide valuable tools for pediatric respiratory health assessments.
  • This study highlights the importance of anthropometric measures in understanding variations in respiratory muscle function during childhood.
Abstract

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