Abstract            Volume:4  Issue-5  Year-2016         Original Research Articles

Online ISSN : 2347 - 3215 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcret@gmail.com

No local spirometric standards exist in Congo (Brazzaville), usable in paediatric pneumology.   To determine the values of forced vital capacity, maximal expiratory volume per second and peak expiratory flow in the children and teenagers of the rural and urban areas and to establish spirometric reference equations according to the anthropometric variables. In this longitudinal study, almost 11994 Congolese pupils from 9 to 17 years old were recruited.  They were divided into two groups, 6475 subjects living in urban area and 5519 in rural area.  The following spirometric parameters were measured: forced vital capacity, maximal expiratory volume per second and peak expiratory flow using a portable spirometer.  Partial Least Square regression model was applied to the data to establish the spirometric reference equations. No significant difference was found between the two areas, excluded for the peak expiratory flow.  Values of the children resulting from  rural area versus  those of  urban area were at the 9 years age:  0.74 l vs  0.85 l for forced vital capacity, 0.64 l vs  0.74 l for maximal  expiratory volume per second, 1.04 l/s vs  1.12 l/s for peak  expiratory flow.  With the 17 years age, values  were  2.50 l  vs  2.26 l  for forced  vital capacity, 1.92 l  vs 1.76 l for maximal expiratory volume per  second, 2.27 l/s vs  3.0 l/s for peak  expiratory flow.  Positive correlations were found between each spirometric variable and anthropometric parameters (age, height, weight).  The equations of prediction were specific of each variable, according to area and sex. The spirometric data obtained in congolese pupils could constitute a useful tool to follow pulmonary development and to diagnose the potential respiratory disorders in the two areas.

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