Unexpectedly high peak expiratory flow rates in normal Greek children

Abstract

Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and standing height (Ht) were measured in 522 healthy Greek children aged 7-16 years. The regression equation of PEFR on height in centimetres was PEFR = 5.34 Ht--380.8. This demonstrated markedly higher values for PEFR in Greek children compared to previously published data from other countries. A sample of 339 British children was examined similarly. The regression equation of PEFR on height in centimetres was PEFR = 5.64 Ht--472.5. This was similar to previously published data. No cause for this discrepancy was found after close examination of population sampling, measurement error or calibration error in the Greek study. It is therefore concluded that Greek children appear to have an unexpectedly high PEFR for height.

Peak expiratory flow among healthy children aged 5–14 years in China

“…Absolute error was calculated as magnitude of the difference between the exact value and predictive value. Comparisons with other reference data for Irish (17), Turkish (18), British (19), Greek children (20), and Danish children (21) children were also made to show differences among the reference values for children. A P value of <0.05 was regarded as significant.…”

“…We made comparisons with other reference data for Irish (17), Turkish (18), British (19), Greek children (20), and Danish children (21) children to show differences among the reference values for children. We found that PEF values for Chinese children of both sexes according to age were close to those of Irish, Turkish, and British children but were lower than those of children in Greece; PEF values according to height were similar to those of Turkish and Danish children but lower than values for children in Ireland.…”

Free running asthma screening test.

“…Detailed analysis of the postexercise PEFR in the 14 children with abnormal FRAST results showed that all had an abnormally low PEFR at 5 and 10 minutes but only five were abnormal 1 minute after exercise. Three required nebulised bronchodilator treatment between 5 and 10 minutes and eight more were given bronchodilators by inhaler after 10 minutes.…”

“…Three required nebulised bronchodilator treatment between 5 and 10 minutes and eight more were given bronchodilators by inhaler after 10 minutes. There--2 I6 -1I8 -1.0 -2.-6 -1.…”

“…2 Relatively few 'campaigns against asthma' have been undertaken in children, however,3 4 mainly because no simple objective method for assessing wheezing illness in the community has been available. 5 Screening for asthma by questionnaire may be informative but is inevitably subjective. Provocation tests using bronchoconstrictor drugs or formal exercise protocols are objective, but they are not feasible in a community setting.…”