RESUMO
Measuring peak expiratory flow rate has been suggested as an important tool used to test ventilator capacity in many epidemiological surveys, for assessing the severity of asthma and bronchial hyper-reactivity management by all international guidelines. The present study was undertaken to determine the normal values of PEFR for healthy population of Basrah city, and comparison with other nations. The study was conducted in Basrah city on [649] healthy subjects of age 5- 75 years of either sex. A Wright peak flow meter was used to measure peak expiratory flow rates [PEFR]. The mean value of PEFR achieved of three successive attempts was recorded at 10 a.m. Standing height in centimeter [cm] was measured. Calculated PEFR values were also done and compare with measured values. Peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] of Basrah subjects linearly related to height for both sex; men above 15 year were significantly higher than women. PEFR values of both sex population were significantly lower than healthy Kashmiri and Western men and women. The value of PEFR in male was higher than that of female children [5-15] and they showed lower values of PEFR in comparison to those for Iranian children. Calculated PEFR values for girls was found significantly higher than measured values. The peak expiratory flow rates for Basrah population were less than those reported from other countries, and the data from this sample size is not representative of characteristics of a region, therefore, the findings of the present study should be considered preliminary and call for further studies with a large sample size based on random selection