Prediction equations for spirometry in four- to six-year-old children.

Objective: To generate prediction equations for spirometry in 4- to 6-year-old children.

Methods: Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 0.5s, forced expiratory volume in one second, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of the forced vital capacity were assessed in 195 healthy children residing in the town of Sete Lagoas, state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil.

Maximal respiratory pressures of healthy children: comparison between obtained and predicted values.

Purpose: To compare maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (PImax and PEmax, respectively) obtained in Brazilian children who are healthy with reference and predicted values from previous studies.

Methods: Respiratory muscle strength of 144 children (63 boys), aged 7 to 11 years, was assessed. A digital manovacuometer was used to measure PImax and PEmax from residual volume and total lung capacity, respectively.