Abstract

Background: The role of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) has been emphasized both in diagnosis and management of patients with asthma.

Aims and Objective: The present study was undertaken to derive the prediction formulae to determine the PEFR in normal, young, healthy, nonsmoking Indian population in the age group of 18–25 years.

Materials and Methods: Computerized spirometry was done in 298 nonsmoking first-year medical students of both genders. All the data were statistically analyzed and prediction equations for the young Indian population were derived.

Results: PEFR showed significant gender difference. Both height and weight showed positive correlation with PEFR in males. In females, height was positively correlated with PEFR, but age showed negative correlation. We formulated univariate and multivariate regression models for prediction of PEFR in the young Indian adults. The matched value for PEFR was found to be higher by 6%–9% in males and 2%–25% in females, in comparison to previous Indian studies. In males, the predicted PEFR was higher (26%) than Pakistani study group, but lower (1%–8%) than Iranian and Caucasian population. The value was almost similar to African-American population. In females, the matched value was found to be higher (5%–28%) than Caucasian, African-American, and Pakistani population studies, but lower by 28% compared to Iranian study.

Conclusion: The computed regression norms may be used to predict the PEFR in young Indian population of similar age group as the study population.

Key words: Indian; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Respiratory Function Tests; Spirometry