EVALUATION OF MEAN PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW RATE (PEFR) OF HEALTHY CHILDREN BELONGING TO URBAN AREAS OF HYDERABAD

Abstract

Introduction: Peak Expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is an important measure of lung function in obstructive airway
diseases. The values of PEFR vary with ethnicity and geographical areas as well as age, sex and height. Bronchial
asthma is a common entity in childhood respiratory illness but unlike adults regional data regarding PEFR is missing
with very few studies done in Hyderabad. Thus this study was designed to determine PEFR in urban children of
Hyderabad and correlate it with their age, sex and height. Materials and methods: 2200 children of age 8-
18months were subjected to PEFR measurement and their anthropometry was recorded. PEFR measurement was
done using wright’s peak flow meter for three times and best of this was recorded. This was correlated with age,
weight and height in both sexes. Results: PEFR increased with age, weight and height in both sexes.it was higher in
boys when compare to girls. Correlation was best with height and so nomograms for PEFR based on the height were
designed. Conclusion: Regional PEFR standard values need to be determine area wise. Larger studies needed to
check the accuracy of PEFR –height nomogram design.