Peak Expiratory Flow Rate as a Function of Anthropometric Variables in Tribal School Children

Background: Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) is a simple and easy way to assess the ventilatory function of lungs. This study aims at correlating PEFR of age-matched tribal boys and girls of Odisha with certain anthropometric parameters like body surface area (BSA), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and waist hip ratio (WHR).

Method: It is a cross-sectional study conducted at a residential school in Bhubaneswar during October 2011 - January 2012. Of the 1000 children examined, 868 (464 - boys and 404 - girls) participants were included after exclusion. The above mentioned anthropometric parameters and PEFR were measured using standard procedures.

Results: Statistically significant differences in the HC in centimetres (70.87 ± 5.6 vs 72.77 ± 6.5, P < 0.05), WHR (0.96 ± 0.04 vs 0.94 ± 0.04, P < 0.005) and PEFR in L/ min (255.3 ± 65.6 vs 210.6 ± 55.7, P < 0.005) between boys and girls were observed; boys showed stronger correlation with the variables than the girls did. There was a negative correlation between PEFR and WHR which was significant in boys. The sub-tribes of Santala, Munda and Kandha showed statistically significant positive correlation between PEFR and other parameters except WHR which showed a significant negative correlation with PEFR in the Munda sub-tribe. WC and HC were best correlated with PEFR in the Bonda group.

Conclusions: The mean observed PEFR and the predicted PEFR are in good agreement statistically.