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Paediatric lung disease
Respiratory function in healthy young children using forced oscillations
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  1. Graham L Hall1,2,
  2. Peter D Sly1,3,
  3. Takayoshi Fukushima3,
  4. Merci M Kusel3,
  5. Peter J Franklin2,
  6. Friedrich Horak Jr1,
  7. Hilary Patterson3,
  8. Catherine Gangell2,
  9. Stephen M Stick2
  1. 1Respiratory Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia
  2. 2School of Paediatric and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
  3. 3Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr Graham Hall
    Respiratory Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, GPO Box D184, Perth, 6840 Australia; graham.hall{at}health.wa.gov.au

Abstract

Background: Monitoring of respiratory function is important in the diagnosis and management of respiratory disease. The forced oscillation technique requires minimal patient cooperation and is ideal for the determination of respiratory function in young children. This study aimed to develop reference ranges and to document the repeatability in healthy young children using commercially available forced oscillation equipment.

Methods: The forced oscillation technique, which uses a pseudo-random noise forcing signal between 4 and 48 Hz, was used to measure respiratory function in healthy young children. Repeatability over a 15 min period was also assessed. Regression equations and standardised Z scores were determined for respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) at 6, 8 and 10 Hz.

Results: Respiratory function was obtained in 158 healthy children aged two to seven years and between 92 and 127 cm in height. Oscillatory respiratory mechanics exhibited linear relationships with height. Within-test variability for resistance ranged between 6% and 9% and between 17% and 20% for reactance. Resistance and reactance did not change significantly over a 15 min period.

Conclusions: Reference ranges for respiratory impedance variables in healthy children aged two to seven years are presented. The short-term repeatability of forced oscillatory variables in this age group is reported, allowing appropriate cut-off values for therapeutic interventions to be defined.

  • Fdep, frequency dependence
  • FOT, forced oscillation technique
  • Rrs, respiratory resistance
  • Xrs, respiratory reactance
  • Zrs, respiratory system input impedance

https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.2006.067835

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    Footnotes

    • Published Online First 24 January 2007

    • This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia, Department of Education, Western Australia, Austrian National Fund and the Asthma Foundation WA. The study sponsors had no involvement in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

    • Competing interests: None.