title: Normal values for inspiratory muscle function in children.
abstract: Assessment of inspiratory muscle function (IMF) is limited in children with neuromuscular disorders, because respiratory muscle tests are poorly standardized and valid normative data are unavailable. We investigated maximum inspiratory pressure after exhalation to residual volume (MIP), mouth occlusion pressure (P0.1) and time of inspiration during quiet breathing and derived inspiratory muscle load (P0.1/MIP), and tension time index (TTI) in 301 healthy schoolchildren 6-16 years old. Gender-specific and age-dependent percentile curves for MIP were drawn with the median, 5%, 10%, 25%, 75% and 95% percentile. P0.1 was equal in boys and girls (0.23  ±  0.11 kPa), while MIP was significantly higher in boys (6.8  ±  2.2 versus 5.8  ±  2.4 kPa). Consequently, P0.1/MIP (4.8% ± 3.2% versus 4.0% ± 3.1%) and TTI (0.2  ±  0.14 versus 0.16  ±  0.14) were significantly higher in girls. MIP was 2.90 + 0.36 × age (kPa) and 3.19 + 0.24 × age (kPa) in boys and girls, respectively. The 95% confidence intervals for boys and girls, respectively, were MIP, 6.3-7.3 kPA and 5.4-6.2 kPa; P0.1/MIP, 3.5%-4.5% and 4.3%-5.3%; TTI, 0.14-0.18 and 0.18-0.22; and P0.1, 0.20-0.24 kPa for both. IMF in children has a wide interindividual variability; however percentile curves facilitate a longitudinal assessment of individual patients. Furthermore, narrow confidence intervals allow for comparisons of study populations, making IMF an appropriate endpoint for clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Departement of Pediatric Pulmonolgy and Sleep Medicine, University of Essen, Children's Hospital, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mellies
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stehling
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dohna-Schwake
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D012016:Reference Values; D012115:Residual Volume; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000592:standards*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*