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Thorax 60:164-167 doi:10.1136/thx.2004.030437
  • Occasional review

The need for standardisation of peak flow charts

Table 1

 Characteristics of charts available for measuring peak expiratory flow (PEF)

Chart Source No of days of data per page Range of PEF values (min–max, l/min) Scale* Angle of onset of exacerbation†
*Scale was calculated as the ratio of vertical height to horizontal width. The vertical height was standardised such that 100 mm represented a range of 0–800 l/min, then the horizontal width was calculated for a period of 31 days.
†Angle formed by the first 4 days of the sample exacerbation in degrees from the horizontal.
‡Axis unlabelled but 10 major divisions on vertical axis, so analysed as 0–1000 l/min for full range chart.
§This booklet contains sufficient 2 week charts for 1 year of monitoring.
¶This chart format is designed for computerised entry of multiple daily PEF values. A limited PEF range relevant to the individual patient is displayed, with 20 l/min = 10 mm and 1 day = 5 mm.
Global Initiative for Asthma Guidelines website14 4 60–800 100:825 10°
Allersearch Packaged with PEF meter 23 50–700 100:382 22°
AsthmaCare Pharmaceutical company 14 0–1000‡ 100:345 24°
MicroPeak Packaged with PEF meter 28 100–800 100:334 24°
FDE Packaged with PEF meter 14 0–700 100:324 25°
Breath Alert Packaged with PEF meter 22 100–700 100:268 29°
Assess Packaged with PEF meter 14 50–900 100:251 31°
Asthma Daily Record Card Pharmaceutical company 57 0–1000‡ 100:246 32°
Personal best Packaged with PEF meter 28 50–900 100:237 33°
Allen & Hanburys Pharmaceutical company 42 50–650 100:232 33°
MiniWright Packaged with PEF meter 42 0–700 100:230 33°
Peak flow meter charts (FP1010) UK NHS 14§ 0–700 100:221 34°
Big Bright Blue Breathing Book Pharmaceutical company 31 0–650 100:174 41°
Airzone Packaged with PEF meter 32 100–700 100:157 44°
Your Personal Asthma Diary and Action Plan Asthma UK,16 reproduced on British guideline website15 28 100–700 100:119 52°
Prototype chart Woolcock Institute of Medical Research 56 0–750 100:82 62°
Occupational asthma format Bright and Burge9 N/A¶ N/A¶ 100:39 76°

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