Measurements of interrupter resistance: reference values for children 3-13 yrs of age.
The interrupter technique is a convenient and sensitive technique for studying airway function in subjects who cannot actively participate in (forced) ventilatory function tests. Reference values for preschool children exist but are lacking for children >7 yrs. Reference values were obtained for expiratory interrupter resistance (R(int,e)) in 208 healthy Dutch Caucasian children 3-13 yrs of age. A curvilinear relationship between R(int,e) and height was observed, similar to published airways resistance data measured by plethysmography. No significant differences in cross-sectional trend or level of R(int,e) were observed according to sex. It was found that Z-scores could be used to express individual R(int,e) values and to describe intra- and interindividual differences based on the reference equation: 10logR(int,e)=0.645-0.00668x standing height (cm) kPa x L(-1) x s(-1) and residual SD (0.093 kPa x L(-1) x s(-1)). Expiratory interrupter resistance provides a tool for clinical and epidemiological assessment of airway function in a large age range.
Merkus
P J F M
PJ
Dept of Paediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands. merkus@alkg.azr.nl
Arets
H G M
HG
Joosten
T
T
Siero
A
A
Brouha
M
M
Mijnsbergen
J Y
JY
de Jongste
J C
JC
van der Ent
C K
CK
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity