The use of air displacement plethysmography in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the use of air displacement plethysmography (ADP) in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). Specifically, the primary aim of this study was to compare estimates of fat-free mass (FFM) measured from ADP and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in children and adolescents with CF. The secondary aim was to compare the effect of using predicted thoracic gas volume (VTG) and measured VTG for the calculation of FFM by ADP in this population. Methods: Cross-sectional FFM measurements were taken using ADP and DEXA in 52 children and adolescents with CF, ranging in age from 6.3 to 16.6y. Results: Bland-Altman analysis showed that ADP values of FFM were on average 0.59 kg higher than DEXA values (95% limits of agreement = 3.61 to -2.43 kg); however this difference was not significant. There was no significant correlation (r= -0.26, P = 0.07) between the mean FFM and difference in FFM between ADP and DEXA. Using either predicted or measured VTG did not significantly affect FFM estimates in individuals with CF who had normal lung function (bias= -0.39± 0.86 kg; r= -0.02, P = 0.93). Conclusions: ADP is an appropriate technique for use in children and adolescents with CF. © 2004 Nature Publishing Group. All rights reserved.