Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Among Healthy School Children Aged 8-13 Years in Puducherry, South India

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to measure the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) among healthy school going children in 8-13 years age group. Further, the study aimed to examine the correlation between PEFR and anthropometric parameters including height, and weight stratified by age and sex, to create nomogram of PEFR and formulate regression formula for PEFR. MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted on school going healthy children of 8-13 years age group at a selected school in Pondicherry using simple random sampling method. After baseline data collection, including height and weight, using standard method, PEFR was measured using mini-Wright peak flow meter. For the study, the highest of three measurements were recorded. RESULTSThe study included 643 healthy students, out of which 391 and 252 were boys and girls respectively. The findings showed that the age (β=7.83, p<0.001), height (β=0.84, p=0.036) and weight (β=0.79, p=0.015) are the significant predictors of PEFR values for girls while age (β=10.03, p<0.001) and height (β=1.36, p<0.001) but not weight (β=0.36, p=0.255) for boys. Nomograms were plotted based on the PEFR values observed in the study population. Predicted equations for PEFR accounting all the three-age, height and weight: PEFR (L/min) = -74.947 + 10.028 * Age (in years) + 1.361 * Height (in cm) + 0.358 * Weight (in Kg) in boys and PEFR (L/min) = -9.465 + 7.825 * Age (in years) + 0.840 * Height (in cm) + 0.797 * Weight (in Kg) in girls. CONCLUSIONThe present study showed a significant correlation between anthropometric parameters including weight and height with PEFR across age and sex among 8 to 13 years healthy school children. The equation would be helpful in evaluation of children with airway diseases.