Lim W S, Carty S M, Macfarlane J T, Anthony R E, Christian J, Dakin K S, Dennis P M
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nottingham City Hospital, UK.
Respir Med. 2002 Jan;96(1):31-3. doi: 10.1053/rmed.2001.1203.
Measurement of respiratory rate (RR) is essential in the evaluation of respiratory disorders. However, the variability in RR measurement in adults has never been adequately assessed. Respiratory rate was measured twice in 245 patients; the two measurements were performed by the same observer in 137 patients, by different observers in 58 patients and simultaneously by different observers in 50 patients. The mean (SD) difference between the first and second measurements was 0.03 (3); 95% limits of agreement-4.86-4.94 breaths min(-1), -5.7-5.7 breaths min(-1), and -4.2 to 4.4 breaths min(-1) for the same observer, different observer and simultaneous observer groups, respectively. The difference in RR measurements did not vary with RR. In conclusions on average, there is very good agreement between observers in RR measurement. Inter-observer variability may account for a difference of up to 6 breaths min(-1). This is relevant when applying clinical prediction rules based on threshold RR values.
呼吸频率（RR）的测量对于评估呼吸紊乱至关重要。然而，成人RR测量的变异性从未得到充分评估。对245例患者的RR进行了两次测量；其中137例患者由同一观察者进行两次测量，58例患者由不同观察者进行测量，50例患者由不同观察者同时进行测量。第一次和第二次测量之间的平均（标准差）差值为0.03（3）；同一观察者、不同观察者和同时观察者组的95%一致性界限分别为-4.86至4.94次/分钟、-5.7至5.7次/分钟和-4.2至4.4次/分钟。RR测量的差值不随RR而变化。结论是，平均而言，观察者之间在RR测量方面具有非常好的一致性。观察者间变异性可能导致相差高达6次/分钟。在应用基于RR阈值的临床预测规则时，这一点很重要。
