深圳地区学龄前儿童用力肺活量测定的可行性及正常预计值公式

目的探讨学龄前儿童用力肺活量测定的可行性,并建立儿童常规用力肺活量的正常参考值。方法对深圳地区3~6岁正常儿童343例(男性184例,女性159例),采用意大利COSMED公司生产的COSMED流量传感仪,参考美国胸科协会可接受曲线标准,测定用力肺活量(FVC)、0.5 s用力呼气容积(FEV0.5)、0.75 s用力呼气容积(FEV0.75)、1 s用力呼气容积(FEV1)、0.5s用力呼气容积占用力肺活量比值(FEV0.5/FVC)、0.75 s用力呼气容积占用力肺活量比值(FEV0.75/FVC)、1 s用力呼气容积占用力肺活量比值(FEV1/FVC)、最大呼气中段流量(FEF25%~75%)、最高呼气流量(PEF)、最高吸气流量(PIF)、呼气时间(FET100%)等11个指标,并对各实测指标作多元逐步线性回归及曲线回归,得出回归方程式。比较本方程与国外Nystad方程对指定身高、体重、年龄的儿童的差异。结果所有儿童测试的总成功率为81.3%,其中3~岁、4~岁、5~岁、6~岁各年龄段测试的成功率分别为69.9%、70.8%、92.3%、91.6%;217例(77.7%)可以完成至少2条可接受的曲线。FVC、FEV0.5、FEV0.75、FEV1、FEF25%~75%、PEF、PIF在各年龄组间差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.01);大多数肺功能指标与身高、体重和年龄均呈密切正相关,男性儿童的大多数肺功能指标与身高的关系最为密切,而女性儿童的大多数肺功能指标则与年龄的关系最为密切。所有儿童的呼气时间为(1.61±0.52)s(x-±s),5百分位数为0.9 s,受试儿童中有18例(6.5%)呼气时间<1 s。建立了各肺功能指标的多元回归方程。结论利用儿童心理特点,通过形象比喻、竞赛游戏的方法进行用力肺活量的测定在中国的学龄前儿童中也是可行的。男性儿童肺功能指标受身高变化影响大于体重和年龄变化;女性儿童肺功能指标受年龄变化影响大于身高和体重变化;首次建立了中国深圳地区学龄前儿童用力肺活量正常值及其回归方程式。     

昆明市5~14岁儿童肺通气功能参数实测值与Zap

目的 研究昆明市5~14岁健康儿童肺通气功能主要参数实测值占Zapletal方程式预计值的百分比,为临床准确判断肺通气功能提供依据。方法 纳入昆明市5~14岁健康儿童702名,其中男352名,女350名。采用Jaeger肺功能仪测定用力肺活量（FVC）、第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）、1秒率（FEV1/FVC）、最大中期呼气流量（MMEF）、用力呼气25%肺活量时瞬时流量（FEF25）、用力呼气50%肺活量时瞬时流量（FEF50）、用力呼气75%肺活量时瞬时流量（FEF75）、最高呼气流量（PEF）、每分钟最大通气量（MVV）,共9项指标,以肺功能仪中提供的Zalpetal预计值公式得出的数值作为所选择儿童的预计值,计算其实测值占预计值的百分比。结果 在702名儿童中,肺通气功能主要参数PEF、FVC、FEV1、FEV1/FVC、MVV实测值占预计值百分比的均值分别波动于102%~114%、94%~108%、98%~113%、98%~107%、141%~183%。气道流速指标功能参数FEF25、FEF50、FEF75、MMEF实测值占预计值百分比分别波动于98%~116%、85%~102%、71%~98%、83%~100%。各参数PEF、FVC、FEV1、FEV1/FVC、MVV、FEF25、FEF50、FEF75、MMEF实测值占Zapletal方程式预计值百分比的下限分别为88.2%、88.4%、92.0%、94.4%、118.5%、82.9%、70.0%、62.1%、70.1%。结论 昆明地区5~14岁健康儿童肺通气功能参数水平与Zapletal方程式提供的正常值存在一定差异;该地区此年龄段的健康儿童肺通气功能参数PEF、FVC、FEV、FEV1/FVC、MVV、FEF25、FEF50、FEF75、MMEF实测值占预计值百分比的正常参考值下限可考虑分别设为88.2%、88.4%、92.0%、94.4%、118.5%、82.9%、70.0%、62.1%、70.1%。     

昆明市5~14岁儿童肺通气功能参数实测值与Zap

目的 研究昆明市5~14岁健康儿童肺通气功能主要参数实测值占Zapletal方程式预计值的百分比,为临床准确判断肺通气功能提供依据。方法 纳入昆明市5~14岁健康儿童702名,其中男352名,女350名。采用Jaeger肺功能仪测定用力肺活量（FVC）、第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）、1秒率（FEV1/FVC）、最大中期呼气流量（MMEF）、用力呼气25%肺活量时瞬时流量（FEF25）、用力呼气50%肺活量时瞬时流量（FEF50）、用力呼气75%肺活量时瞬时流量（FEF75）、最高呼气流量（PEF）、每分钟最大通气量（MVV）,共9项指标,以肺功能仪中提供的Zalpetal预计值公式得出的数值作为所选择儿童的预计值,计算其实测值占预计值的百分比。结果 在702名儿童中,肺通气功能主要参数PEF、FVC、FEV1、FEV1/FVC、MVV实测值占预计值百分比的均值分别波动于102%~114%、94%~108%、98%~113%、98%~107%、141%~183%。气道流速指标功能参数FEF25、FEF50、FEF75、MMEF实测值占预计值百分比分别波动于98%~116%、85%~102%、71%~98%、83%~100%。各参数PEF、FVC、FEV1、FEV1/FVC、MVV、FEF25、FEF50、FEF75、MMEF实测值占Zapletal方程式预计值百分比的下限分别为88.2%、88.4%、92.0%、94.4%、118.5%、82.9%、70.0%、62.1%、70.1%。结论 昆明地区5~14岁健康儿童肺通气功能参数水平与Zapletal方程式提供的正常值存在一定差异;该地区此年龄段的健康儿童肺通气功能参数PEF、FVC、FEV、FEV1/FVC、MVV、FEF25、FEF50、FEF75、MMEF实测值占预计值百分比的正常参考值下限可考虑分别设为88.2%、88.4%、92.0%、94.4%、118.5%、82.9%、70.0%、62.1%、70.1%。     

哮喘和咳嗽变异性哮喘儿童肺常规通气功能的比较

目的：比较哮喘与咳嗽变异性哮喘（CVA）患儿肺常规通气功能的变化。方法：选择2010年 5月至2011年5月确诊为哮喘或CVA的患儿140例,分为哮喘急性发作组（发作组,50例）、哮喘缓解组（缓解组,50例）和CVA组（40例）;同期正常健康体检儿童30例作为对照组。测定4组儿童用力肺活量(FVC)、一秒钟用力呼气容积(FEV1)、最大呼气峰流速(PEF)、用力呼气25%流速(FEF25)、用力呼气50%流速(FEF50)、用力呼气75%流速(FEF75)、最大呼气中期流速(MMEF75/25)等7项肺功能指标。结果：发作组患儿各项肺功能指标如大气道指标FVC、FEV1、PEF、FEF25及小气道指标FEF50、FEF75、MMEF75/25的实际值/预计值平均水平均<80%,且以FEF50、FEF75、MMEF75/25等小气道指标下降为著。CVA组患儿小气道指标FEF75、MMEF75/25实际值/预计值的平均水平<80%。发作组各项肺常规通气功能指标均低于对照组;缓解组、CVA组FVC、FEV1、FEF25及 MMEF75/25实际值/预计值的平均水平低于对照组;发作组各项肺功能指标均明显低于缓解组和CVA组;CVA组与缓解组各项肺功能指标差异均无统计学意义。结论：哮喘急性发作期患儿存在大小气道功能障碍,以小气道功能障碍为主;CVA患儿以小气道功能轻微障碍为主,与哮喘缓解期相似。     

节段性肺炎支原体肺炎患儿肺功能检测的临床意义

目的探讨节段性肺炎支原体肺炎(SMPP)患儿肺功能变化及临床意义。方法分别测定55例SMPP患儿急性期和恢复期的肺功能,包括FVC、FEV1、FEV1/FVC、PEF、FEF25%、FEF50%、FEF75%、FEF25%-75%。结果 55例SMPP患儿急性期FVC、FEV1、FEV1/FVC、PEF、FEF25%、FEF50%、FEF75%及FEF25%-75%均有不同程度降低,以FEF25%、FEF50%、FEF75%和FEF25%-75%降低较为明显。恢复期各项指标均有明显改善,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。多部位病变SMPP患儿急性期FVC和FEV1较单个叶段病变患儿下降明显(P<0.05)。结论 SMPP患儿急性期大、小气道功能均有不同程度损伤,多表现为限制性通气障碍,小气道功能受损更明显;恢复期肺功能明显好转。多叶段病变大气道功能受损较单个叶段病变严重。     

常规肺通气功能检测在儿童支气管哮喘诊疗中的作用

目的 通过对比支气管哮喘(哮喘)患儿规范化治疗前后肺功能指标的变化,探讨其大小呼吸道功能改变及改变时间段.通过对比哮喘患儿吸入支气管扩张剂前后肺功能变化,明确哮喘患儿对支气管扩张剂的反应及呼吸道狭窄、呼吸道阻塞的可逆性.方法 采用肺功能测定系统对25例哮喘患儿分别于哮喘急性发作期、正规治疗后缓解期3个月、6个月、1 a行常规肺通气功能测定,比较各期实测值与预测值;并从中选出10例患儿于急性发作期行支气管舒张试验,比较支气管扩张剂雾化吸入前后其肺功能指标变化. 结果 哮喘患儿急性发作期用力肺活量(FVC)、一秒钟用力呼气量(FEV1)、1秒率(FEV 1.0%)、最大呼气流量(PEF)、25%用力呼气肺活量(FEF25)、FEF50、FEF75、中段呼气流速(MMEF75/25)等实测值均较预测值降低,治疗3个月FVC、FEV1等大呼吸道功能指标恢复,治疗1 a、FEF50、FEF75、MMEF75/25等小呼吸道功能指标恢复.哮喘患儿支气管扩张剂雾化吸入后大呼吸道功能指标FEV1、PEF及小呼吸道功能指标FEF50、FEF75、MMEF75/25等均较雾化前恢复.结论 哮喘患儿的肺功能指标在急性期和缓解期存在特异性动态变化,肺功能检测在儿童哮喘的诊断、疗效及病情判断方面具有良好的作用.     

肥胖哮喘患儿肺功能改变特点观察

目的 了解门诊哮喘患儿中肥胖者所占比例;探究肥胖与肺通气功能的关系。方法 将2011年1月至2013年12月于上海儿童医学中心哮喘专科门诊就诊的2343例哮喘儿童,根据体重指数（BMI）分为肥胖组358例（15.3%）、超重组476例（20.3%）及体重正常组1509例（64.4%）。检测3组患儿治疗前、随访及规范化治疗1年后的肺功能指标：包括第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）、用力肺活量（FVC）、1秒率（FEV1/FVC）,用力呼气流量（FEF）占用力肺活量的25%,50%,75%（FEF25%、FEF50%、FEF75%）,呼吸峰流速（PEFR）。结果 358例肥胖哮喘患儿中,男性明显多于女性［307（85.8%） vs. 51(14.2%),P＜0.01］;随着BMI增加,哮喘患儿FEV1/FVC明显降低,三组间比较差异具有统计学意义（83.3±9.04 vs. 81.54±9.08 vs. 80.26 ±8.66, F＝3.41,P＝0.03）;随访期间,各组哮喘患儿肺功能组间无明显差异;与初诊时基础肺功能相比,每次随访各肺通气功能参数前后比较差异均有统计学意义（P值均＜0.05）;治疗1年后,肥胖组哮喘患儿FEF75%明显低于超重组及体重正常组（0.70±0.26 vs. 0.65±0.24 vs. 0.60±0.25,P＝0.04）。结论 在肥胖哮喘患儿中,男性多见;BMI增高与FEV1/FVC降低有关,且降低规范化治疗对哮喘患儿肺功能的改善效应,表现为治疗1年后肥胖患儿FEF75%较正常体重组差异明显。     

呼吸系统疾病

060835深圳地区学龄前儿童用力肺活量测定的可行性及正常预计值公式/张清玲…∥中华儿科杂志.-2005,43(11).-843~848所有儿童测试的总成功率为81.3%。FVC、FEV0.5、FEV0.75、FEV、FEF25%~75%、PEF、PIF在各年龄组间差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.01)。大多数肺功能指标与身高、体重     

常规肺通气功能检测在儿童哮喘评估中的应用

目的探讨哮喘病情与肺功能指标变化特点,为哮喘规范化治疗提供客观依据。方法采用肺功能测定系统对25例哮喘患儿于急性期、缓解期6个月及1年分别行常规肺通气功能测定,比较各期实测值与预计值比值之间的差异。结果哮喘患儿的症状与肺功能指标呈现出一致性,急性期大气道指标用力肺活量(FVC)、1秒钟用力呼气量(FEV1)、最大呼气峰流量(PEF)及75%、50%、25%肺活量时用力呼气流速(FEF25、50、75)、中段呼气流速(MMEF75/25)等实测值与预计值比值均降低,治疗6个月后FVC、FEV1等大气道功能指标基本恢复,1年后小气道功能指标FEF50、75及MMEF75/25等指标恢复。结论肺功能指标在哮喘的病情评估方面具有重要作用,对于哮喘治疗具有重要指导作用。     

重庆地区3～12岁儿童肺通气功能预计方程式的初步建立

目的　建立学龄前期及小学阶段学龄期儿童的肺通气功能参数预计方程式。方法　采用德国JAEGER公司MasterScreen Pead肺功能仪,于2017年4月至2018年9月对重庆地区主城两所幼儿园及小学的458名3～12岁儿童进行肺通气功能测定。采用SAS9.4统计软件包,通过单因素线性回归模型分析各已知及潜在的影响因素与各肺功能参数的相关性,以各肺功能指标实测值为因变量,以性别、年龄、身高、体重为自变量,通过多元逐步回归建立线性回归方程。将构建的方程式与文献中相应年龄段的肺功能预计方程式进行比较,采用相对预测误差平均值评价各公式的适用性。结果　对于学龄前期儿童,肺功能各指标［剩余25%肺活量时的用力呼气流量（MEF25）除外］均与月龄、身高、体重相关,性别与用力肺活量（FVC）、第0.5秒用力呼气容积（FEV0.5）、第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）、呼气峰流速（PEF）、MEF75、MEF50和最大通气量（MVV）相关。对于学龄期儿童,年龄、身高、体重与除呼气中段流速（MMEF）外的各肺功能指标均有显著相关性,性别与FVC、FEV1、FEV0.5/FVC、MEF50、MVV显著相关。预计公式模型比较后显示,该次构建的模型对该研究群体有较好的适用性。结论　年龄、身高和体重为影响学龄前期和学龄期儿童肺通气功能参数的主要变量,性别对学龄前期儿童肺功能参数的影响多于学龄期儿童,应根据不同年龄段建立各项肺通气功能指标的预计公式。该模型的构建可为3～12岁儿童肺通气功能相关参数的预测提供帮助。     

Pulmonary function tests in beta thalassemia

To study pulmonary function tests (PFT) in multiple transfusion recipient thalassemics, PFTs were done for 30 thalassemics and 20 matched controls. Confirmed cases of thalassemia on regular transfusion therapy were the subject of study. Apart from history and physical examination of the thalassemics, serum ferritin estimation and spirometry were done. Parameters studied included lung volumes—functional residual capacity (FRC), forced vital capacity (FVC), residual volume (RV) and total lung capacity (TLC); and flow rates —forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV,), forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV,/FVC), peak expiratory flow 25–75 (PEF 25–75%) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Single breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco) and arterial blood gas (ABG) were also analysed. The mean height and weight of thalassemics were below that of age matched controls. A restrictive abnormality in PFT was found in 86.6% cases. These patients were found to have a decrease in all the lung volumes namely FVC, FRC, RV and TLC with a proportional decrease in the flow rates, FEV1, PEF 25–75% and PEF with a normal (> 0.75) FEV1/FVC ratio. DLco was decreased in all the patients with restrictive lung disease and fall in DLco showed a good correlation (r = 0.7, P <. 001) with the severity of restrictive disease suggesting that some intrapulmonary pathology is likely to be responsible for the restrictive pattern. None of the cases had an obstructive or mixed pattern of pulmonary dysfunction. No correlation was found between severity of restrictive disease and the serum ferritin levels. A negative correlation with degree of hepatosplenomegaly was found. No correlation was found between severity of the defect and age, number of blood transfusions received and hemoglobin at the time of doing the test. To conclude, restrictive lung disease is the predominant abnormality in multi-transfused thalassemics, which is probably due to pulmonary parenchymal pathology. The abnormality of PFTs is not directly related to iron overload.     

不同胸部影像学表现的肺炎支原体肺炎儿童的肺功能变化特征

目的 探讨不同胸部影像学改变的肺炎支原体肺炎（MPP）患儿肺功能异常的特点。方法 根据胸部影像学结果将确诊为MPP 的215 名患儿分为支气管肺炎组（125 例）、大叶性肺炎组（69 例）和间质性肺炎组（21 例）,比较3 组间肺功能检测指标用力肺活量（FVC）、第1 秒时间用力呼出气体容量（FEV1）、最高呼气流速（PEF）和最大呼气中段流速（MMEF 25%~75%）的差异。结果 支气管肺炎组患儿急性期PEF（实测值和实测值/ 预计值）明显低于其他两组患儿;大叶性肺炎组患儿急性期MMEF 25%~75% 显著低于其他两组;间质性肺炎组患儿急性期FVC 明显低于其他两组患儿。3 组患儿恢复期肺功能与急性期比较,除大叶性肺炎组患儿FEV1 无明显好转外,其他指标均明显改善。结论 胸部影像学为支气管肺炎改变的MPP 患儿主要表现为大气道功能受损;大叶性肺炎改变者以小气道功能受损更为明显;间质性肺炎改变患儿既有阻塞性通气功能障碍,又有限制性通气功能障碍。     

Comparison of pulmonary function between children living in rural and urban areas in northern Nigeria

Children in northern Nigeria and elsewhere in the hot, arid western Sahel, are at risk of having their lung function compromised by a variety of factors, including undernutrition, environmental factors (e.g. airborne pollutants such as dust and smoke from wood fires), chronic upper-respiratory tract infections, and low socioeconomic class. We were interested in using spirometry to compare the pulmonary function of Nigerian children and adolescents aged 6-18 years who were living in urban and rural settings with the corresponding standards for African-American children. A total of 183 boys and girls in the rural village of Sabon Fobur on the Jos Plateau and another 128 boys and girls in the city of Jos were tested to determine their forced vital capacity (FVC), FVC at 1 s (FVC1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). The nutritional status of the subjects was determined by measuring the body mass index (BMI), triceps skin-fold thickness, and mid-arm circumference, and fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) by bioelectrical impedance analysis. According to the results of anthropometry, the subjects in Sabon Fobur and Jos were lean but generally adequately nourished. The mean FVC, FVC1 and PEF values for the rural males were 1.851,1.761, and 3.521, and for the urban males they were 1.971,1.791, and 3.471, respectively. The corresponding values for the rural females were 1.791,1.701, and 3.371, and for the urban females they were 1.761,1.671, and 3.091. These values were approximately 100 per cent of the corresponding values for African-American children. In general, strong correlations were found between each of the three lung function parameters and age, weight, height (only for the males), BMI, MAC, and FFM. These results show that: (1) the lung function of Nigerian children and adolescents living in either rural or urban areas were similar and compared favorably with African-American standards, and (2) weight was as important as height in determining pulmonary function. The inclusion of FFM as an explanatory variable did notfurther increase the accuracy of the prediction, even in a population where malnutrition may be prevalent. Therefore, we conclude that measurements of height and weight are all that are required for the assessment of lung function using spirometry in Nigerian children.     

Pulmonary function test in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major patients: a pilot study

Lung involvement is one of known complications of thalassemia. The aim of this study was to determine predominant type of pulmonary dysfunction and its relationship to iron overload in β-thalassemia children. Fifty thalassemia major children with treatment of regular blood transfusion and desferrioxamine participated in the study. Thirty-three boys and 17 girls (median age 12.5 years) with β-thalassemia enrolled in the study. Other information including body mass index, hematocrit, and the number of years of blood transfusion were recorded. Serum ferritin level and hematocrit were 3346 ± 1667 mg/dL and 27.7 ± 2, respectively. Pulmonary function tests were performed in all subjects for detecting pulmonary dysfunction. Thirty-five patients (70%) with thalassemia had abnormal result of spirometry. Obstructive airway disease based on reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) and FEV(1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio <80% was detected in 4 patients (8%). Six patients (12%) showed restrictive pattern, as defined by a reduction FVC <80% and FEV(1)/FVC ratio ≥80%. In this study, small airway involvement based on presence of forced expiratory flow (FEF(25%-75%)) <60%, FEV(1)/FVC ratio >70%, and FVC >80% was detected in 25 subjects (50%). Decreased values of peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were detected in 23 (46%) and low FEV(1) in 10 (20%) subjects. There was no significant correlation between abnormal pulmonary function test and serum ferritin level in children with thalassemia. This study showed small airway disease was predominant abnormality in thalassemia patients, although additional larger studies are needed to evaluate underlying mechanisms and validate these findings.     

儿童右肺中叶综合征的肺功能变化及其意义

目的：探讨右肺中叶综合征患儿治疗前后的肺功能变化及其临床意义。方法：将30例儿童右肺中叶综合征住院患儿分成两组,≤4岁组患儿20例选用2600型肺功能仪,>4岁组患儿10例选用MIR型肺功能仪,分别在治疗前和治疗后做肺功能测定,比较其治疗前后的肺功能参数的变化。2600型肺功能仪测定的主要参数取75%潮气量与最高呼气流速之比(25/PF)和潮气量与最高潮气呼气流速之比(%V-PF)2个参数来反映0~4岁组患儿的肺功能变化,MIR型肺功能仪测定的主要参数取最大肺活量(FVC)、1秒率(FEV1)和最高呼气流速(PEF)共3个参数来反映>4岁组患儿的肺功能变化。结果：≤4岁组治疗前肺功能参数的测定值分别为25/PF=0.42±0.08,%V-PF=0.28±0.03;治疗后的肺功能参数的测定值为25/PF=0.58±0.12,%V-PF=0.39±0.06。两者治疗前后比较差异有显著性,t=4.21,3.82;均P<0.05。>4岁组治疗前肺功能参数的测定值分别为FVC=1.75±0.32,FEV1=1.36±0.52, PEF=2.56±0.78;治疗后的肺功能参数的测定值分别为FVC=2.37±0.78,FEV1=2.08±0.65, PEF=3.68±0.80。治疗前后比较,分别t=3.05, 2.98,3.12;均P<0.05。结论：右肺中叶综合征患儿治疗前后的肺功能变化是明显的,治疗后肺功能可恢复正常。［中国当代儿科杂志,2009,11（8）：669-671］     

Growth and other factors affecting peak expiratory flow in Greek children

AIM: The estimation of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in children is a very easy and practical way to check lung function and helps in the diagnosis, treatment follow-up and evaluation of the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: Using a Mini-Wright flowmeter (Clement Clarke International Ltd, England), we studied the Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) of 7,067 healthy Greek children of age range 6-17 years. All the children have a height ranging between mean value+/-2 Standard Deviations for age and sex. RESULTS: The results were correlated with age, weight, height and triceps skinfold thickness. The mean value of PEF was higher in boys than in girls at all ages, except from the age of 12-13 years. Our results have shown a very strong relationship between PEF and age up to the age of 11 years (P<0.005) but we didn't find such a relationship in older children as regards PEF and height (P<0.001). No positive correlation between PEF and weight or between PEF and triceps skinfold, was found (P > or =0.05). Moreover, a considerable difference in PEF values was found in the various groups of every age and sex according to height. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that height should always be considered in order to estimate PEF value. The values of this study (mean and percentiles) were compared to those of other studies. Finally, we recommend that the results of this study should be used as standards for Greek children.     

Reference values for spirometry in preschool children

ObjectivesReference values for lung function tests differ in samples from different countries, including values for preschoolers. The main objective of this study was to derive reference values in this population.MethodsA prospective study was conducted through a questionnaire applied to 425 preschool children aged 3 to 6 years, from schools and day-care centers in a metropolitan city in Brazil. Children were selected by simple random sampling from the aforementioned schools. Peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volumes (FEV₁, FEV_0.50), forced expiratory flow (FEF_25-75) and FEV1/FVC, FEV_0.5/FVC and FEF_25-75/FVC ratios were evaluated.ResultsOf the 425 children enrolled, 321 (75.6%) underwent the tests. Of these, 135 (42.0%) showed acceptable results with full expiratory curves and thus were included in the regression analysis to define the reference values. Height and gender significantly influenced FVC valuesthrough linear and logarithmic regression analysis. In males, R² increased with the logarithmic model for FVC and FEV₁, but the linear model was retained for its simplicity. The lower limits were calculated by measuring the fifth percentile residues.ConclusionFull expiratory curves are more difficult to obtain in preschoolers. In addition to height, gender also influences the measures of FVC and FEV₁. Reference values were defined for spirometry in preschool children in this population, which are applicable to similar populations.     

Asthma treatment in schoolchildren: lung function in different therapeutic groups

Dynamic spirometry and peak expiratory flow were measured in 297 school-aged children with asthma during their control visit at the outpatient clinic in 1993. Sixty (20%) children had no maintenance drugs, 169 (57%) used cromoglycate ( n = 97) or nedocromil ( n = 72), and 68 (23%) budesonide. The treatment of each child had been selected on clinical grounds according to the principles of the international consensus statement from 1989. The mean values of peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV₁) were over 95% of the height-related reference values in all treatment groups. The lower limits of the 95% confidence intervals were at the level of more than 90% of those predicted. The mean FEV₁/FVC ratio (FEV%) was over 85%, and the mean maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) over 75% of the reference values. Decreased PEF values (<75%) were present in 10%, decreased FVC, FEV₁, or FEV% (<75%) values in 4–6%, and decreased MMEF ((65%) values in 18%. Only minor differences between the different therapeutic groups were observed. Our results show that the clinical selection of children between the three therapeutical groups was adequate. In our area up to 70% of children requiring maintenance therapy for asthma can be treated with cromones.