Lung function in white children aged 4 to 19 years: II--Single breath analysis and plethysmography.

Abstract

Objective-A study was performed to determine reference ranges for whole body plethysmographic gas volumes and single breath gas transfer in healthy prepubertal and pubertal schoolchildren. Methods-The study was performed in 772 white London schoolchildren (455 male) who were clinically examined, assessed auxologically and, in 63% of cases, pubertally staged. Regression equations for the calculation of standard deviation scores were derived. Results-Male lung function variables showed a discontinuous pattern of increase with standing height. Linear increases until puberty were followed by a sudden pubertal rise and a further increase with height which was more marked than before puberty. Correction for varying thoracic dimensions eliminated these changes. In females a smoother curvilinear relationship was observed with no correction possible for thoracic size. Conclusions-Male puberty leads to profound changes in pulmonary function mostly related to thoracic size, an effect not observed in females. (Thorax 1993;48:803-808) by a single breath technique in healthy white UK schoolchildren. Spirometeric measurements have been dealt with in the previous This paper is concerned with whole body plethysmographic measurement of thoracic gas volumes and the assessment of both functional gas transfer and accessible gas volumes Methods The children have been fully described elsewhere' but briefly comprised 772 white schoolchildren of UK origin (455 male) from

Prediction of peak expiratory flow rate from armspan in healthy children aged 8 to 12 years

“…There are only a few studies that have established reference standards for pulmonary functions of Indian children [8][9][10][11]. However many reference standards for pulmonary functions of white children have been published [12][13][14]. Therefore the aim of this study was to derive accurate prediction equation to predict PEFR from arm span.…”

Precision of measurement and body size in whole-body air-displacement plethysmography

“…Predicted lung volume was used for the calculation of BV, using adult- 16 or child-speci®c 17,18 equations as appropriate. 14 Appropriate corrections for thoracic gas volume and skin surface area artefact in adults and children were applied to this raw measurement to obtain actual BV.…”

Nature and severity of lung function abnormalities in extremely pre-term children at 11 years of age

“…With the exception of the Lung Clearance Index (LCI), which, in health, is relatively constant throughout life [12], lung function results were expressed as Z-scores to adjust for height, sex and age [17][18][19][20]. Results were classified as: normal when total lung capacity (TLC), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1 and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of FVC (FEF25-75%) all fell within the normal range; obstructive, when FEV1/FVC was less than the lower limit of normal (LLN) and/or residual volume (RV)/TLC was greater than upper limit of normal; or restrictive when TLC and/or FVC were less than LLN or FEV1 and/or FEF25-75% was reduced in the presence of a normal FEV1/FVC [21].…”