title: Peak expiratory flow in normal medical students in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The assessment of lung function is of considerable importance in the diagnosis of respiratory diseases, normal reference values need to be determined. The peak expiratory flow (PEF) is a simple, reproducible and easily affordable test of lung function which has been used in resource poor countries like Nigeria. A study PEF was carried out in medical students of the University of Maiduguri and the result was compared with various prediction equations calculated in other parts of Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a cross-sectional study involving 255 medical students. Data was collected between March and June 2010 using MicroPeak™ peak flow meter (Micromedical MEI 2A2 Kent) as the instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference between the measured PEF and the predicted values based on different formulae derived from the different parts of Nigeria. However, the values in females in this study was consistent with the one obtained by one investigator in the north western part of the country. PEF positively correlated with the measured anthropometric parameters and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of the study showed that the prediction formulae of Njoku et al and Salisu et al may be used in the assessment of PEF of individuals in this environment; however, further studies with larger sample size may be needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, P M B 1414, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bukar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bakki
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammangabdo
authors.forename: Mohammed Abdullahi
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Talle
authors.forename: Segun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oluwole
authors.forename: Haruna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yusuph
authors.forename: Mohammed Bashir
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Alkali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical; D055815:Young Adult