Predictive Regression Equations of Flowmetric and Spirometric Peak Expiratory Flow in Healthy Moroccan Adults

Abstract

Introduction . PEF has never been characterized among healthy Moroccan adults. The objective of this study is to describe the values of PEF among healthy Moroccan adults, to study its relationship with anthropometric parameters (gender, age, height, and weight), to compare spirometric and flowmetric PEF, to establish the prediction equations for PEF, and to study the correlation between PEF and FEV1. Methods . Cross-sectional study conducted between May and June 2016. It involved healthy nonsmoking volunteers living in Tetouan, Morocco, gathered through a mobile stand realization of spirometry and peak flow measurements. Results . Our final sample concerned 313 adults (143 men and 170 women). For both men and women, age and height were the main determinants of PEF, and a positive correlation was found between PEF and FEV1. Conclusion . Our study has established the PEF predictive equations in the Moroccan adult population. Our results allow us to conclude that the PEF can be a reliable alternative of FEV1 in centers not equipped with spirometry.