Nasal airway resistance in asymptomatic Thai population.

ABSTRACT

Active anterior rhinomanometry was performed for the first time on one hundred and forty-six Thai adults without nasal symptoms. The subjects were divided into two groups group I – with normal rhinoscopic appearance and Group II – with slight septal deformity. Transnasal airflow and nasal airway resistance (NAR) were measured by ATMOS Rhinomanometer 220 in each subject before and after decongestion. The statistical analysis showed that the nasal airflow and ANR in both groups were not significantly different. The normal NAR at a differential pressure of 75 Pascals in Thai adults was 0.22 + 0.10 Pa/cc/sec before decongestion and 0.16 + 0.06 Pa/cc/sec after decongestion. This value is slightly lower than the average NAR reported in Caucasian and in Negroid Nigerians. We also found that NAR in female subjects was significantly higher than in males. There was no correlation between NAR and age and weight, but a statistically significant inverse correlation with the height of the subject was observed.