Peak expiratory flow rate amongst urban adults of Secunderabad

Abstract

Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is a measure of ventilator capacity measured by peak flow meter. It varies in different age, sex, height and is affected by the disease process and habits like smoking, tobacco use, air pollution etc. The objective of the study was determining the prevalence of abnormal peak expiratory flow using peak flow meter and their association with socio demographic variables. PEFR was measured using the Peak Flow meter and the best of the three readings was taken. A total of 609 respondents participated in the study. Most of the respondents (44%) belonged to the age group of 36-50 years. Majority of them were unemployed (65.4%) and uneducated (53.4%). Family history of chronic respiratory disease amongst at least one of their parents was found to be 3.4%. A total of 40.07% of the respondents reached 80% of their predicted PEFR value and 5.58% reached 60% of their normal. There was a statistically significant association in abnormal PEFR between age group and gender. Present study depicted abnormal peak expiratory flow rate more among females and the age group of above 50 years. This measurement test is easy to perform and due to its advantages, it can be employed in community based surveys to detect airway obstruction.

Keywords

• peak expiratory flow rate (pefr)
• urban adults
• prevalence.