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Spirometry in an unselected group of 6‐year‐old children: The DARC birth cohort study
Author(s) -
Kjaer Henrik Fomsgaard,
Eller Esben,
BindslevJensen Carsten,
Høst Arne
Publication year - 2008
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.20871
Subject(s) - spirometry , medicine , asthma , bronchodilator , cohort , pediatrics , pulmonary function testing , population , anthropometry , vital capacity , physical therapy , lung function , lung , environmental health , diffusing capacity
This study presents reference equations for spirometric parameters in 6‐year‐old children and evaluates the ability of spirometry to discriminate healthy children from children with asthma. Baseline spirometry and respiratory symptoms were assessed in 404 children participating in a longitudinal birth cohort study. Children with known asthma, possible asthma and a control group also performed bronchodilator measurements. At least two acceptable flow‐volume curves at baseline were obtained by 368/404 children (91%). The two best values for FEV1 and FVC were within 5% of each other in 88% and 83% of children, respectively. Linear regression analyses for 242 children included in the reference population demonstrated height to be the main predictor of all spirometric indices except FEV1/FVC. FEV1, FEV75, and FVC correlated reasonably to anthropometric data in contrast to flow parameters. Gender differences were found for FEV1, FVC, and FEV75, but not for flow parameters. Asthma was diagnosed in 25/404 children. Baseline lung function in healthy children and children with asthma overlapped, although asthmatic children could be discriminated to some extent. Bronchodilator tests showed a difference in ΔFEV1(mean) between healthy children and children with asthma (3.1% vs. 6.1%, P < 0.05). At a cut‐off point of ΔFEV1 = 7.8%, bronchodilator tests had a sensitivity of 46% and a specificity of 92% for current asthma. Spirometry including bronchodilator measurements was demonstrated to be feasible in 6‐year‐old children and reference values were determined. Spirometry aids the diagnosis of asthma in young children, but knowledge on sensitivity and specificity of these measurements is a prerequisite. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:806–814. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.