Sly P D, Cahill P, Willet K, Burton P
Division of Clinical Sciences, Western Australia Research, Institute for Child Health, Perth.
BMJ. 1994 Feb 26;308(6928):572-4. doi: 10.1136/bmj.308.6928.572.
To assess whether mini flow meters used to measure peak expiratory flow can track changes in lung function and indicate clinically important changes.
Comparison of measurements with a spirometer and different brands of mini flow meter; the meters were allocated to subjects haphazardly.
12 boys with asthma aged 11 to 17 attending boarding school.
Peak expiratory flow measured twice daily for three months with a spirometer and at least one of four brands of mini flow meter.
The relation between changes in lung function measured with the spirometer and those measured with the mini flow meters was generally poor. In all, 26 episodes (range 1-3 in an individual child) of clinically important deterioration in lung function were detected from the records obtained with the spirometer. One mini flow meter detected six of 19 episodes, one detected six of 15, one detected six of 18, and one detected three of 21.
Not only are the absolute values of peak expiratory flow obtained with mini flow meters inaccurate but the clinical message may also be incorrect. These findings do not imply that home monitoring of peak expiratory flow has no place in the management of childhood asthma but that the values obtained should be interpreted cautiously.
评估用于测量呼气峰值流速的微型流量计能否追踪肺功能变化并提示具有临床意义的变化。
将微型流量计与肺量计的测量结果进行比较；流量计被随机分配给受试者。
12名年龄在11至17岁的患有哮喘的寄宿制男学生。
使用肺量计和四种品牌的微型流量计中的至少一种，每天测量两次呼气峰值流速，持续三个月。
肺量计测量的肺功能变化与微型流量计测量的变化之间的相关性通常较差。从肺量计获得的记录中总共检测到26次（每个儿童1至3次）具有临床意义的肺功能恶化。一种微型流量计检测到19次中的6次，一种检测到15次中的6次，一种检测到18次中的6次，一种检测到21次中的3次。
微型流量计所测得的呼气峰值流速绝对值不仅不准确，而且临床信息也可能有误。这些发现并不意味着在家监测呼气峰值流速在儿童哮喘管理中毫无用处，而是所获得的值应谨慎解读。
