Quality of spirometric measurements in children younger than 10 years of age in the light of the reccommendations

Waldemar Tomalak; Jakub Radliński; Wojciech Latawiec

Vol 76, No 6 (2008)

Research paper

Published online: 2008-10-31

Submitted: 2013-02-22

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Quality of spirometric measurements in children younger than 10 years of age in the light of the reccommendations

Waldemar Tomalak, Jakub Radliński, Wojciech Latawiec

Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2008;76(6):421-425.

Vol 76, No 6 (2008)

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Published online: 2008-10-31

Submitted: 2013-02-22

Abstract

Introduction: In 2005 the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society (ERS/ATS) published an updated document on the standardization of spirometry (European Respiratory Journal 2005; 26: 319-338). It defines criteria for the acceptability of spirometric measurements. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the adherence to those standards of flow-volume measurements in children younger than 10 years of age.
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.