Source: Annual Congress 2012 - Various issues in clinical physiology
Disease area: Airway diseases, Paediatric lung diseases

Abstract

Background: The Multiple Breath inert gas Washout (MBW) method is increasingly used in research studies to assess ventilation distribution inhomogeneity. Normative data are needed when using the method clinically.
Methods: Spirometry and triplets of nitrogen (N2) MBW using a new device (Exhalyzer D, EcoMedics AG, Duernten, Switzerland) were recorded in 284 healthy subjects aged 7-70 yrs. Mean and SD were calculated in four age groups for LCI (Lung Clearance Index), indices of peripheral airway function based on concentration normalized slope III analysis (Scond, Sacin, Pacin), concentration normalized end-tidal N2 after 6 lung volume turnovers (Cn TO6), washout time (WoT) and moment ratios (m1/m0; m2/m0).
Results are tabulated.

Demography and Results (mean (SD))

Age groups	7-19 yrs	20-39 yrs	40-59 yrs	60 -70 yrs
n (males)	44 (24)	82 (37)	110 (58)	48 (20)
Age, yrs	13.8 (3.1)	29.4 (5.6)	50.1 (5.6)	66.1 (2.9)
Height, cm	161 (16)	174 (9)	175 (9)	170 (8)
FEV1, % pred	101 (10)	102 (11)	103 (12)	112 (12)
LCI	6.54 (0.28)	6.70 (0.36)	7.28 (0.43)	7.78 (0.62)
LCI, ULN	7.09	7.41	8.11	9.00
LCI, CV%	3.6 (2.6)	3.0 (1.6)	3.8 (2.2)	3.1 (2.9)
Scond * VT	0.021 (0.004)	0.021 (0.008)	0.022 (0.009)	0.026 (0.013)
Sacin * VT	0.051 (0.012)	0.056 (0.021)	0.069 (0.030)	0.088 (0.038)
Pacin * VT	0.066 (0.023)	0.074 (0.034)	0.082 (0.049)	0.115 (0.075)
Cn TO6	2.89 (0.27)	3.02 (0.33)	3.55 (0.41)	4.03 (0.52)
WoT, s	137(49)	163 (59)	172 (64)	169 (55)
m1/m0	1.46 (0.06)	1.48 (0.07)	1.60 (0.09)	1.72 (0.12)
m2/m0	4.15 (0.36)	4.34 (0.45)	5.14 (0.60)	5.98 (0.97)

ULN, Upper Limit of Normal

Conclusion: Reference values for several different indices of ventilation distribution inhomogeneity obtained in a large healthy population over a wide age range are now available allowing for clinical use of this new N2 MBW method.

Rating:

Share or cite this content

Citations should be made in the following way:
B. Houltz, K. Green, A. Lindblad, F. Singer, P. Robinson, K. Nielsen, P. Gustafsson (Gothenburg, Skövde, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; Bern, Switzerland; Sydney, Australia). Tidal N₂ washout ventilation inhomogeneity indices in a reference population aged 7-70 years. Eur Respir J 2012; 40: Suppl. 56, 3797

Member's Comments

No comment yet.

Related content which might interest you: Variability of tidal breathing parameters in healthy children in the age span 7 to 14 years Source: Eur Respir J 2001; 18: Suppl. 33, 118s Year: 2001 Derivation of the predicted equation for peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) for children aged 4-15 years using the new European union (EU) scale peak flow meter (PFM) in an Indian population Source: Annual Congress 2009 - Clinical advances in childhood asthma Year: 2009 Duration of mechanical ventilation influences lung volume in preterm infants at 15-18 months corrected age Source: Annual Congress 2008 - Clinical applications of ventilatory function tests in paediatric pulmonology Year: 2008 Peak inspiratory flow (PIF) in asthmatic children below 6 years of age Source: Eur Respir J 2003; 22: Suppl. 45, 495s Year: 2003 Reference values for forced expiration parameters in Bulgarian children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years Source: Eur Respir J 2005; 26: Suppl. 49, 612s Year: 2005 Derivation of the predicted equation for peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR) for children aged 4-15yrs in an Indian population Source: Annual Congress 2009 - Paediatric lung function, imaging and methodology in health and disease Year: 2009 Association between body composition and maximal respiratory pressures in women aged 40-80 years old Source: International Congress 2017 – Assessment and treatment of respiratory muscle function in respiratory physiotherapy Year: 2017 Measurements of interrupter resistance: reference values for children 3-13 yrs of age. Source: Eur Respir J 2002; 20: 1616 Year: 2002 Peak nasal inspiratory flow values of children in the 6-14 age group Source: Eur Respir J 2004; 24: Suppl. 48, 621s Year: 2004 Inspiratory flow capabilities of healthy and asthmatic children aged 2 to 5 yrs old in the presence of varying device resistance Source: Annual Congress 2009 - New developments in preschool wheezing disorders and its genetic basis Year: 2009 Non-invasive, non-contact measurement of tidal breathing parameters in children aged 3-17 years using structured light plethysmography (SLP) Source: International Congress 2015 – Paediatric asthma and allergy: lung function and biomarkers Year: 2015 Assessment of ventilatory efficiency in healthy pediatric population in the age span 7-18 Source: Eur Respir J 2004; 24: Suppl. 48, 325s Year: 2004 Spirometric reference equations for European females and males aged 65-85 yrs Source: Eur Respir J 2004; 24: 397-405 Year: 2004 Normal values for respiratory resistance using forced oscillation in subjects >65 years old Source: Eur Respir J 2005; 26: 602-608 Year: 2005 Lung function, forced expiratory volume in 1 s decline and COPD hospitalisations over 44 years of follow-up Source: Eur Respir J 2016; 47: 742-750 Year: 2016 Predictors of pulmonary function test (Spirometry) values for Pakistani children, aged 5-14 years Source: International Congress 2018 – Insights in primary ciliary dyskinesia, asthma and lung function testing Year: 2018 Performance of spirometry in children aged 10-18 years Source: Annual Congress 2008 - Quality spirometry: the only spirometry! Year: 2008 Correlation between total score of asthma control test and FEV1 and FEF50% in 12-18 years old children Source: Annual Congress 2007 - Assessing asthma severity and control in children Year: 2007 Regional ventilation distribution in the first 6 months of life Source: Eur Respir J 2011; 37: 919-924 Year: 2011 Published regression equations underestimate 6 minute walk distance (6MWD) for healthy Australians aged 45-85 years Source: Annual Congress 2008 - Pulmonary rehabilitation for non-COPD and severe COPD; field exercise testing Year: 2008