Factors affecting peak expiratory flow variability and bronchial reactivity in a random population sample.

Abstract

Results-A total of 273 subjects (69%) collected a PEF meter but a completed record sheet was returned by only 247 (62%); this was still significantly more than the 202 subjects (54%) who attended for and successfully completed a challenge test. Amplitude % mean was higher in women than in men (9.7% v 8.5%). In multiple regression analysis amplitude % mean increased significantly with age, mean skin weal diameter, and with current smoking. The odds of having a PD20 below 24 5,umol increased with mean skin weal diameter and were greater in current smokers. Neither age nor sex had a significant effect on bronchial reacitvity but there were significant interactions between age and the effects of both smoking and atopy. Conclusions-The higher response rate associated with the use of PEF variability measurement, and the association with factors implicated in the pathogenesis of airways disease, suggest that PEF variability would be a useful measurement to employ in epidemiological studies. (Thorax 1993;48:899-905)

Distribution of peak expiratory flow variability by age, gender and smoking habits in a random population sample aged 20-70 yrs

“…This trend is significant both for females and males. This result is in accordance with results presented by NEUKIRCH et al [17], who studied 117 blue-collar workers and HIGGINS et al [18] who studied PEF variability in a random sample of adults. We found that this greater PEF variability at older ages is due not only to lower mean PEF values, but also the result of greater absolute differences between afternoon and morning PEF.…”

“…3), testing was performed on log 10 -transformed data. The mean values of the amplitude % mean in the current population were lower than those described in previous studies [14,17,18]. Females had a significantly higher amplitude % mean than males (ANCOVA; p=0.022; adjusted for age, height and pack-years).…”

“…We found that this greater PEF variability at older ages is due not only to lower mean PEF values, but also the result of greater absolute differences between afternoon and morning PEF. The same divergency has been described in a study population measuring PEFs at two hourly intervals during waking hours [18].…”

“…So far, only HIGGINS et al [18] have investigated variability of PEF in a random sample of the general population. The purpose of the current paper is to describe the distribution of PEF variability in a random population sample of adults with a wide age range (20-70 yrs), and to assess relationships to age, gender and smoking habits.…”

Diurnal Variation of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Healthy Young Adults of North East of India

“…In the present study Mean diurnal variation was found to be7.00±4.46 (A%M) and 3.65±2.35 (SD%M), with 6.67±5.03 (A%M) and 3.50±2.73 (SD%M) in males and 7.33 ±3.86 (A%M) and 3.80±1.94(SD%M) in females.There is no statistical significant difference in diurnal variation between males and females. Diurnal variation expressed as A%M and SD%M in the present study are found to be similar with other Indian studies but found to be lower than that of Western studies 4,8 …”