title: Prediction equations for spirometry in four- to six-year-old children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To generate prediction equations for spirometry in 4- to 6-year-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 0.5s, forced expiratory volume in one second, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of the forced vital capacity were assessed in 195 healthy children residing in the town of Sete Lagoas, state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. The least mean squares method was used to derive the prediction equations. The level of significance was established as p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 85% of the children succeeded in performing the spirometric maneuvers. In the prediction equation, height was the single predictor of the spirometric variables as follows: forced vital capacity=exponential [(-2.255)+(0.022×height)], forced expiratory volume in 0.5s=exponential [(-2.288)+(0.019×height)], forced expiratory volume in one second=exponential [(-2.767)+(0.026×height)], peak expiratory flow=exponential [(-2.908)+(0.019×height)], and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of the forced vital capacity=exponential [(-1.404)+(0.016×height)]. Neither age nor weight influenced the regression equations. No significant differences in the predicted values for boys and girls were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The predicted values obtained in the present study are comparable to those reported for preschoolers from both Brazil and other countries.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielle Corrêa
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: França
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Augusto Moreira
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Camargos
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Respirology Division, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus Herbert
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Hospital Arnaldo Gavazza, Ponte Nova, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jocimar Avelar
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna da Silva Pinto Pinheiro
authors.initials: Bda S
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Enrico Antônio
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Colosimo
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karla Morganna Pereira Pinto
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: de Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raíssa de Oliveira
authors.initials: Rde O
authors.lastname: Borja
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Rodrigues
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Britto
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: veronicaparreira@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Verônica Franco
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Parreira
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012015:Reference Standards; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Child; Controle de qualidade; Criança; Equações de predição; Equipamentos; Equipment; Espirometria infantil; Prediction equations; Preschool; Pré-escola; Quality control; Spirometry children