Correlates of peak expiratory flow lability in elderly persons.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the correlates of the lability of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in the elderly.


METHODS
A community sample of 4,581 persons > or = 65 years old from the Cardiovascular Health Study completed an asthma questionnaire and underwent spirometry. During a follow-up examination of the cohort, 1,836 persons agreed to measure PEF at home twice daily for 2 weeks, and 90% successfully obtained at least 4 days of valid measurements. PEF lability was calculated as the highest daily (PEF maximum - PEF minimum)/mean PEF.


RESULTS
Mean PEF measured at home was accurate when compared to PEF determined by spirometry in the clinic. Mean PEF lability was 18% in those with current asthma (n = 165) vs 12% in healthy nonsmokers (upper limit of normal, 29%). Approximately 26% of those with asthma and 14% of the other participants had abnormally high PEF lability (> 29%). After excluding participants with asthma, other independent predictors of high PEF lability included black race, current and former smoking, airway obstruction on spirometry, daytime sleepiness, recent wheezing, chronic cough, emphysema, and wheezing from lying in a supine position. Despite having a lower mean PEF, those reporting congestive heart failure (n = 82) did not have significantly higher PEF lability.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of PEF lability at home is highly successful in elderly persons. PEF lability > or = 30% is abnormal in the elderly and is associated with asthma.
Enright
P L
PL
College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ 85724, USA. lungguy@aol.com
McClelland
R L
RL
Buist
A S
AS
Lebowitz
M D
MD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013147:Spirometry