Publication: Peak expiratory ow rate of Nepalese children and young adults
Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: In diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases, the assessment of lung functions is of considerable
importance. So, normal reference values for pulmonary function tests of any population need to be assessed.
Objective: An attempt has been made in the present study to measure the peak expiratory ow rate (PEFR) in healthy
Nepalese children and young adults.
Material and methods: One hundred ninety six (196) students were selected by inclusion criteria from different schools
and colleges in Pokhara Sub- Metropolitan City, Nepal. The anthropometric measurements and peak expiratory ow rate
(PEFR) were measured by standard procedures.
Result: The mean PEFR values of males and females are found to have 350.3 (±135.0) l.min-1 and 280.2 (±98.77) l.
min-1 respectively. The PEFR values of Nepalese males of the present study are found to be higher as compared to their
females’ counterparts. It is interestingly noted that at preadolescence time, PEFR is almost comparable in both sexes but
after puberty males attained signi cantly higher values than females. The trend of PEFR values with development of the
age is also been noted. It is interestingly pointed out that PEFR values of Nepalese males in the present study increases
signi cantly with the advancement of age up to 20 years of age and then after PEFR do not change. On the other hand,
females showed signi cant PEFR increment with the advancement of age up to 15 years of age only and then after PEFR
do not improve signi cantly.
Conclusion: PEFR was found to be in uenced signi cantly by height not by the weight. Finally, a prediction equation
was established by which PEFR of Nepalese population of 5 to 25 years of age can be estimated from age or height.
Keywords: Peak expiratory ow rate, Nepalese children, Growth & Development, sex difference and obesity
Description
Dhungel KU 1, Parthasarathy D 2, Dipali S3
1Lecturer, Department of Physiology, Nepal Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2Assistant Professor, 3Professor, Department of Physiology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal