Assessment of peak expiratory flow rate in preadolescent children of sub‑tribal communities in Odisha

Magna Manjareeka; Jayanti Mishra; Sitikantha Nanda; Soumya Mishra; Jyotiprakash Mishra

Magna Manjareeka Department of Physiology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Jayanti Mishra Department of Physiology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Sitikantha Nanda Department of Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Soumya Mishra Department of Physiology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Jyotiprakash Mishra Department of Paediatrics, Capital Government Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Keywords: Odisha, Peak expiratory flow rate, Preadolescent, Sub‑tribe, Tribe

Abstract

Background and Aim: Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is considered to be a reliable index to assess the ventilatory functions of lungs. Gender is one of the important independent variable that influences PEFR value. Though there are studies on PEFR in tribal children, there is paucity of data regarding the gender differences in PEFR among tribal children. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the effect of gender on PEFR in age‑matched, preadolescent tribal children in an urban area of Odisha and also to compare the same between the sub‑tribal groups. Methods: It is a cross‑sectional study conducted at a residential school in Bhubaneswar during the period from September 2011 to March 2012. Total of 1000 tribal children were selected from standard 4 and 5, of which 868 participants were included in the study. PEFR and anthropometric measurements were recorded in these subjects. Students ‘t’ test and one‑way analysis of variance were used to test the difference in various parameters among the gender and sub‑tribal groups, respectively. Association between anthropometric parameters and PEFR was determined using correlation analysis. Results: The mean ± SD age in years of the boys and girls were 9.87 ± 1.5 and 9.75 ± 1.2, respectively. The mean ± SD of PEFR in L/min was significantly (P < 0.001) more in boys (255.34 ± 65.60) than in girls (210.59 ± 55.70). The boys showed a better correlation of PEFR with weight, height and chest circumference than the girls. PEFR values significantly differed between the subtribal groups (P < 0.001). The anthropometric variables showed a positive correlation with PEFR in all the subtribes. While Santala and Munda subtribes showed maximum correlation of PEFR with weight and height, the chest circumference was well correlated with PEFR in Soura and Bonda subtribes. Conclusion: The mean PEFR of the tribal boys is higher than those of the tribal girls of Odisha. Height, weight and chest circumference were observed to be better correlated with PEFR in boys when compared to girls, among the sub‑tribal groups of Odisha.