Pulmonary function tests in normal school children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary function tests were done in normal Saudi Children [215 boys, 130 girls] ranging in age from 6 to 17 years. The children were selected at random from various primary and secondary schools in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The variables measured were vital capacity [VC], forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV[1]], FEV[1]/FVC%, and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC [FEF 25 - 75%]. In general, the values were higher in boys than in girls of the same age VC was consistently lower than FVC in both sexes. With the exception of FEV[1]/FVC%, all variables showed good correlations with age, height, and weight. The FVC and FEV[1] values in our study were lower than those reported for Jordanian children. Prediction formulas for each variable were determined