Spirometry Abnormalities and Its Associated Factors Among Primary School Children in a Nigerian City

There is paucity of data on objectively measured lung function abnormalities in Nigerian children using diagnostic testing methods such as spirometry. Such assessments could prompt early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.

This was a cross sectional study among children aged 6 to 12 years in South-Eastern Nigeria. We selected participants from one school using a multistage stratified random sampling technique. A structured respiratory questionnaire was administered to obtain necessary data. The lung functions of the children were measured by spirometry. We used Lower Limits of Normal (LLN) based on GLI reference equations for African-American and mixed ethnicities to define abnormal spirometry. We studied the association between the exposures and lung function using logistic regression/chi-squared tests.

A total of 145 children performed acceptable and repeatable tests. There were 73 males (50.3%), mean age of 9.13 years (+1.5) and age range 6 to 12 years. Frequency of respiratory symptoms was cough- 64 (44.1%) and wheeze in 19 (13.1%). Using GLI for African-Americans, fifty-five (37.9%) children had abnormal spirometryobstructive pattern in 40 (27.6%) and restrictive pattern in 15 (10.3%). The two references showed significant differences in interpretation of abnormality (χ² = 72.86; P < .001). Respiratory symptom-wheeze was an independent determinant of abnormal lung function in this population.(OR = 0.31; 95%CI: 0.10-0.94; P = .04).

There is a high burden of respiratory symptoms and abnormal spirometry among these children. The need for objective evaluation of lung function especially for children with respiratory symptoms is evident.