open access
Quality of spirometric measurements in children younger than 10 years of age in the light of the reccommendations
open access
Abstract
Material and methods: The analysis was carried out on the results obtained from 233 children aged 4.2-10 years, referred to a spirometric lab during a period of three months.
Results: 116 children (all but one preschool) did not cooperate; the results of the 117 who completed the procedure of flow-volume measurement were analysed using ERS/ATS criteria. 80.3% of the children had back extrapolated volume (Vbe) within the defined limit, but only 23.9% had forced expiratory time > 3 s. FEV1 and FVC were repeatable in 78.6% of the children. When these three criteria were used together, the measurements were acceptable according to ATS/ERS recommendations in 17.1% of the children. Elimination of the forced expiratory time criterion has further increased their number to 63.2%.
Conclusions: Specific recommendations for children should be developed, as the current requirements appear too restrictive, especially regarding the time of forced expiration.
Abstract
Material and methods: The analysis was carried out on the results obtained from 233 children aged 4.2-10 years, referred to a spirometric lab during a period of three months.
Results: 116 children (all but one preschool) did not cooperate; the results of the 117 who completed the procedure of flow-volume measurement were analysed using ERS/ATS criteria. 80.3% of the children had back extrapolated volume (Vbe) within the defined limit, but only 23.9% had forced expiratory time > 3 s. FEV1 and FVC were repeatable in 78.6% of the children. When these three criteria were used together, the measurements were acceptable according to ATS/ERS recommendations in 17.1% of the children. Elimination of the forced expiratory time criterion has further increased their number to 63.2%.
Conclusions: Specific recommendations for children should be developed, as the current requirements appear too restrictive, especially regarding the time of forced expiration.
Keywords
spirometry; flow-volume; children; quality; recommendations
About this articleTitle
Quality of spirometric measurements in children younger than 10 years of age in the light of the reccommendations
Journal
Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Issue
Pages
421-425
Published online
2008-10-31
Bibliographic record
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2008;76(6):421-425.
Keywords
spirometry
flow-volume
children
quality
recommendations
Authors
Waldemar Tomalak
Jakub Radliński
Wojciech Latawiec