Predictive equations for maximal respiratory pressures of children aged 7-10.
George J da Rosa, André M Morcillo, Maíra S de Assumpção and 1 others
PMID 28442072WHAT IT FOUND
The equations for Brazilian children aged 7-10 explained only 13.9%, 14.1%, 15.0% and 21.6% of maximal respiratory pressure values, so weight, height and age alone are weak guides.
Key findings
01In 399 analyzed healthy children aged 7-10, boys generally had higher maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures than girls, and pressures increased with age in boys.
02The new equations had low explanatory power: adjusted coefficients of determination were 14.1%, 13.9%, 15.0% and 21.6%, and biometric measures did little to explain respiratory muscle strength.
03For boys, weight predicted log maximal inspiratory pressure and height predicted log maximal expiratory pressure; for girls, weight predicted log maximal inspiratory pressure and weight combined with age predicted log maximal expiratory pressure.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only healthy schoolchildren from public schools in Florianópolis, Brazil, and excluded children with abnormal weight, disease history, acute illness, inability to perform tests or FEV1 below 80% predicted, so it does not describe children with respiratory or other disease. The children's motivation and cooperation were not objectively assessed, and the authors say this may have affected the low equation performance. The equations explained only 14.1%, 13.9%, 15.0% and 21.6% of pressure values, so they are weak predictors. This was a cross-sectional reference-value study, not a treatment trial, so it cannot show that physical therapy or respiratory rehabilitation improves pressure.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not use these equations as a stand-alone diagnostic rule for respiratory muscle weakness in any child. The equations explained only 14.1%, 13.9%, 15.0% and 21.6% of pressure values, and the study was in healthy schoolchildren from one Brazilian city, so abnormal weight, disease history and poor cooperation were excluded.