Abstract：
Spirometry and peak cough flow testing (PCF) are commonly used in the respiratory assessment of children with a neuromuscular disorder (NMD). Testing uses two different machines, increases laboratory time, costs and resource utilisation. No studies have assessed the correlation between peak expiratory flow (PEF) obtained from spirometry and PCF in children with NMD using one device. An audit of children with a NMD managed at the Children\'s Hospital at Westmead in 2022-2024 aged < 20 years who performed spirometry and PCF testing on the same device (Vyaire Body BoxTM, Ultrasonic flow meter-based, or Vyaire PneumotachographTM, Pneumotach flow meter-based; Germany) was conducted to assess the correlation between PCF and PEF. Fifty-one sets of testing were identified, and 40 subjects (9F) had reproducible testing and were included. Median (range) age was 14.95 (7.20-19.00) years. Median PEF (L/min) was 4.05 (1.22-10.26) and median PCF (L/min) was 4.29 (1.69-10.82). PEF and PCF had a strong Pearson\'s correlation coefficient, (R = 0.97, p = 0.03). The coefficient of determination was 0.93. If laboratory resources permit, spirometry should be the test of choice for children with NMD. On average, spirometry required multiple practices to achieve reproducibility to meet ATS/ERS standards. PCF testing can be utilised for children where performing technically acceptable spirometry is not possible.
摘要：
肺活量测定和峰值咳嗽流量测试（PCF）通常用于患有神经肌肉疾病（NMD）的儿童的呼吸评估。测试使用两台不同的机器，增加实验室时间，成本和资源利用率。尚无研究评估使用一种设备从肺活量测定法获得的最大呼气流量（PEF）与NMD儿童的PCF之间的相关性。对2022-2024年在Westmead儿童医院管理的NMD儿童的审计，年龄<20岁，他们在同一设备上进行了肺活量测定和PCF测试(VyaireBodyBoxTM，基于超声波流量计，或VyairePneutachographTM，基于气动流量计的；德国）进行了评估PCF和PEF之间的相关性。确定了51套测试，40名受试者（9F）具有可重复测试，并包括在内。中位（范围）年龄为14.95（7.20-19.00）岁。PEF（L/min）中位数为4.05（1.22-10.26），PCF（L/min）中位数为4.29（1.69-10.82）。PEF和PCF具有较强的Pearson相关系数，(R=0.97,p=0.03)。测定系数为0.93。如果实验室资源允许，肺活量测定应该是NMD儿童的首选测试。平均而言,肺活量测定需要多种方法来实现重现性,以符合ATS/ERS标准.PCF测试可用于无法进行技术上可接受的肺活量测定的儿童。
