MEAN PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW RATE IN IRAQI YOUTH MALE POPULATION AGED 18 TO 38 YEARS OLD

Abstract

The objective of this study was to Measure the Peak Expiratory Flow rate which has been suggested as an important tool used to test ventilator capacity in Iraqi youth population. In this research 101 young Iraqi students aged 18 to 38 years (mean ±S.D 20.20±0.99) were included to measure their peak expiratory flow values using peak flow meter. The mean values of peak expiratory flowrate achieved of three successive attempts and take the highest reading; standing height in centimeter (cm) was measured. Results show deviation from the European scale standard to measure PEFR, confirming that peak expiratory flow reading in Iraqi young population aged 18 to 38 is different from that in European scale. The data from this sample size is not representative of characteristics of the studied population, therefore, the findings of the present study should be considered preliminary and call for further studies with a large sample size based on random selection to confirm the peak expiratory flow readings of normal individuals to be used in the follow up on Asthmatic Iraqi patients. This study showed deviation from European scale in the enrolled individuals.