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Biomedical subjects

J Kivastik

Publications and source records attributed to J Kivastik.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Differences in lung function and chest dimensions in school-age girls and boys.

The present analysis was undertaken to find out whether differences in the performance of the lungs of boys and girls of the same height are explicable by differences in thoracic size. We measured forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory flows (FEFs), when 50% and 75% of FVC had been exhaled (FEF50, FEF75), and standing height, chest width and depth and biacromial diameter in 1187 schoolchildren aged 6-18 years. Thoracic dimensions were usually greater in boys than in girls of the same height, except for the height range of 150.0-164.9 cm. For this height range, the pulmonary function variables (PEF, FEF50, FEF75 and PEF/FVC) were significantly higher in girls, and for FVC almost as high as the male values. For FEF50/FVC and FEF75/FVC, the female values were larger over the whole height range (115.0-184.9 cm), but even for these parameters the differences were greatest for the height range 150.0-164.9 cm. In conclusion, very similar growth patterns of lung function and thoracic parameters can suggest that differences in the lung function parameters of boys and girls of the same height may be explained by differences in the thorax size.

Child↗

Lung function in Estonian children: effect of sitting height.

The present analysis formed part of the population study of Estonian school-children and was undertaken in order to examine the relationships between lung function variables, standing and sitting height. We measured forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory flows when 50 and 75% of FVC had been exhaled, and anthropometric indices in 645 healthy schoolchildren, aged 6-18 years. The growth spurt in standing and sitting height occurred between the ages of 11 and 13 years in girls, and 13 and 15 years in boys. Growth spurts of lung parameters occurred during the same periods. FVC and FEV1 showed close correlations (r = 0.89-0.94) with all anthropometric parameters and age, whereas correlation coefficients for the flows were less close (r = 0.65-0.88). In boys, correlations between sitting height and lung function variables were greater than those with standing height. Using stepwise regression analysis, in boys sitting height was selected in all lung function parameters, and in girls sitting height was never selected. We conclude that there is a very close correlation between sitting height and lung function variables. The use of sitting height in parallel with standing height in predicted values for Estonian schoolchildren would make the values more exact.

Adolescent↗