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Relationship between peak cough flow and spirometry in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Author(s) -
Gauld Leanne M.,
Boynton Alison
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.20151
Subject(s) - medicine , duchenne muscular dystrophy , spirometry , muscular dystrophy , physical therapy , cardiology , asthma
Spirometry is used to monitor respiratory progress in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Mucociliary clearance depends on cough strength, which can be measured by peak cough flow (PCF). It is not routinely measured in most centers. When the PCF falls below 270 l/min, mucociliary clearance is likely to be impaired during viral illnesses, and techniques to assist mucociliary clearance should be taught. There is no known association between spirometry and PCF. Our aim was to assess if PCF relates to spirometry measures, and if spirometry can be used to predict when the PCF <270 l/min. Children with DMD aged 6–19 years were recruited. Spirometry was performed with a Jaeger Masterscope with version 4.60 software. PCF was performed with a Wright peak flow meter. Data were collected into an Access '97 database, and statistics were performed with Stata 7.0. The association between PCF and spirometry was defined with linear regression. Logistic regression was used to predict the probability that the PCF would be <270 l/min for any given forced vital capacity (FVC) or forced expired volume in 1 sec (FEV 1 ). The risk ratios for PCF <270 l/min were calculated for the spirometry parameters. PCF is associated with FVC (R 2 , 0.72) and FEV 1 (R 2 , 0.69). The likelihood of PCF <270 l/min rises when FVC <2.l and FEV 1 <2.l/sec. The risk ratio for PCF <270 l/min when FVC <2.1 l is 4.80 (1.72–13.40) and when FEV 1 <2.1 l/sec is 3.94 (1.43–10.85). In children with DMD, PCF should be measured when FVC <2.1 l or FEV 1 <2.1 l/sec, so that techniques to assist with mucociliary clearance can be effectively used. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.