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Updated: Aug 2, 2025
Conducting Respiratory Oscillometry in an Outpatient Setting
Published on: April 8, 2022
Normal values of respiratory oscillometry in South African children and adolescents
Shaakira Chaya1, Rae MacGinty1, Carvern Jacobs1
1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and SA-MRC Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Insights
This study developed the first respiratory oscillometry reference equations for African children and adolescents. These equations will aid in the early detection and management of pediatric respiratory diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Physiology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Noninvasive respiratory impedance measurement using oscillometry is valuable for assessing young children and those unable to perform forced maneuvers.
- Oscillometry can differentiate between healthy children and those with respiratory conditions.
- A significant gap exists in reference data for oscillometry in African pediatric populations, limiting its clinical utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish reference equations for oscillometry outcomes in South African children and adolescents.
- To provide essential data for the accurate interpretation of respiratory impedance measurements in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 692 South African children and adolescents (aged 3-17 years) were included.
- Conventional spectral and intra-breath oscillometry were performed.
- Stepwise linear regression analyzed the relationship between respiratory variables and anthropometric predictors (height, sex, ancestry) to generate reference equations.
Main Results:
- Height was the only significant predictor for all oscillometry variables.
- Reference equations were successfully developed for this population.
- Comparisons with existing data suggested potential differences in resistance and compliance, particularly in younger children.
Conclusions:
- The study presents the first respiratory oscillometry reference equations for African children and adolescents.
- These equations are expected to improve the early identification and management of pediatric respiratory diseases in the region.
- Findings indicate potential ancestral differences in oscillometry measures and underscore the need for methodological standardization.
Introduction:
Noninvasive measurement of respiratory impedance by oscillometry can be used in young children aged from 3 years and those unable to perform forced respiratory manoeuvres. It can discriminate between healthy children and those with respiratory disease. However, its clinical application is limited by the lack of reference data for African paediatric populations. The aim of the present study was to develop reference equations for oscillometry outcomes in South African children and adolescents.
Methods:
Healthy subjects, enrolled in the Drakenstein Child Health Study, HIV-uninfected adolescents in the Cape Town Adolescent Antiretroviral Cohort and healthy children attending surgical outpatient clinics at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital were measured with conventional spectral (6-32 Hz) and intra-breath (10 Hz) oscillometry. Stepwise linear regression was used to assess the relationship between respiratory variables and anthropometric predictors (height, sex, ancestry) to generate reference equations.
Results:
A total of 692 subjects, 48.4% female, median age of 5.2 years (range: 3-17 years) were included. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) for weight for age z-score and height for age z-score was -0.42 (-1.11-0.35) and -0.65 (-1.43-0.35), respectively. Stepwise regression demonstrated that all the variables were significantly dependent on height only. Comparison to previous reference data indicated slightly higher resistance and lower compliance values in the smallest children.
Conclusion:
We established the first respiratory oscillometry reference equations for African children and adolescents, which will facilitate use in early identification and management of respiratory disease. Our results suggest differences in oscillometry measures by ancestry but also highlight the lack of standardisation in methodology.
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