Comparison of Mini-Wright Peak Flow Meter and Microplus Pocket Spirometer in Measuring Peak Expiratory Flow Rate.
- Author:
Young Ho RAH
1
;
Chong Woo BAE
;
Sa Jun CHUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Peak expiratory flow rate;
Mini-Wright peak flow meter;
Microplus pocket spirometer
- MeSH:
Airway Obstruction;
Asthma;
Child;
Diagnosis;
Female;
Humans;
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate*
- From:Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease
1999;9(2):178-183
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) monitoring plays an important role in the diagnosis of airway obstruction and management of patients with bronchial asthma. This study compared the PEFR taken by a Microplus pocket spirometer and mini-Wright peak flow meter by assessing the extent of agreement between the instruments and the repeatability of measurements with each instrument. METHODS: Eighty healthy children (age 11-12 years, 43 females, 37 males) performed three PEFR maneuvers on the Microplus pocket spirometer and on the mini-Wright peak flow meter in a random order. Agreement and reproducibility between the two instruments were assessed by the statistical methods proposed by Bland and Altman. RESULTS: Seventy six (95%) of the PEFR taken by the mini-Wright peak flow meter were higher than that of Microplus pocket spirometer. The 95% limits of agreements (mean difference+/-2SD) between each instrument were very wide (2.7 to 144.3 L/min). The repeatability coefficient for the mini-Wright peak flow meter was 27 L/min and for the Microplus pocket spirometer was 33.5 L/min. Analysis by sex and order of usage did not show any significant differences. CONCLUSION: The limit of agreement between the Microplus pocket spirometers and the mini-Wright peak flow meter was too wide to use interchangeably.
