Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults
Published on: February 9, 2022
Respiratory Function in Healthy Taiwanese Infants: Tidal Breathing Analysis, Passive Mechanics, and Tidal Forced
Shen-Hao Lai1,2,3, Sui-Ling Liao2,4,3, Tsung-Chieh Yao1,2,3
1Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Insights
This study establishes normal infant lung function (ILF) reference values for Taiwanese infants, finding body length is key for accurate respiratory assessments. These race-specific data aid in diagnosing infant respiratory diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Neonatal Health
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Infant lung function (ILF) testing is underutilized in Eastern countries.
- Limited lung function data exists for Asian infants.
- This study addresses the need for normative ILF values in Taiwanese infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normal reference values for infant lung function tests in Taiwanese infants.
- To provide race-specific data for accurate respiratory assessments.
- To develop regression equations for key ILF parameters.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled full-term infants from the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese Children (PATCH) cohort.
- Collected detailed medical and birth history data.
- Performed ILF measurements including tidal breathing analysis, passive respiratory mechanics, and forced expiratory flow-volume curves using Jaeger Masterscreen BabyBody Paediatrics System.
- Utilized multiple linear analyses to identify influencing variables.
Main Results:
- Collected ILF parameters from 126 infants (189 tests).
- Identified consistent ratios for expiratory time, expiratory volume, and inspiratory time across ages.
- Found body length to be the strongest predictor for tidal volume, respiratory rate, resistance, compliance, and maximal expiratory flow.
Conclusions:
- This is the first study to establish ILF reference data for the Asian population.
- Provided reference values and regression equations for healthy infants under 2 years.
- Race-specific ILF data can improve diagnosis of respiratory diseases in infants of Chinese ethnicity.
Background:
Although infant lung function (ILF) testing is widely practiced in developed Western countries it is not typically performed in Eastern countries, and lung measurements are scarce for Asian infants. Therefore, this study aimed to establish normal reference values for Taiwanese infants.
Materials And Methods:
Full-term infants without any chronic diseases and major anomalies were enrolled in the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese Children (PATCH) cohort study. Detailed medical data, such as body weight and length, birth history, and histories of previous illness and hospitalization were recorded. Lung function measurements such as analysis of tidal breathing, passive respiratory mechanics, and forced tidal expiratory flow-volume curves were obtained through Jaeger Masterscreen BabyBody Paediatrics System. Multiple linear analyses were performed to determine various parameters of the lung function tests.
Results:
ILF test parameters were collected from 126 infants, and 189 tests were performed. The results revealed that the ratio of time to peak expiratory flow to total expiratory time, the ratio of volume to peak expiratory flow to total expiratory volume, and the ratio of inspiratory time to total respiratory time remained relatively constant despite differences in age. However, body length is the strongest independent variable influencing tidal volume, respiratory rate, resistance, compliance, and maximal expiratory flow at functional residual capacity.
Conclusion:
According to our review of relevant literature, this is the first study to establish a reference data of ILF tests in the Asian population. This study provided reference values and regression equations for several variables of lung function measurements in healthy infants aged less than 2 years. With these race-specific reference data, ILF can more precisely and efficiently diagnose respiratory diseases in infants of Chinese ethnicity.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation
01:27Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration...
01:15Respiratory Volumes
Tidal Volume (TV) Tidal volume (TV) is the air inhaled or exhaled in a...
01:22Respiratory Volumes and Capacities
01:29Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
01:24Respiratory Capacities
One key metric is the Inspiratory Capacity (IC), which represents the maximum amount of air that can be inhaled with full effort. IC is calculated by summing the tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume, typically ranging from 2.4 to 3.6 liters.
The Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) represents the air in the...