Peak inspiratory flow in children and adolescents with asthma using dry powder inhalers: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To measure peak inspiratory flow (PIF) and assess dynamic lung function in children and adolescents with asthma, as well as to determine the association of PIF with dynamic lung function and clinical variables. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of children and adolescents with asthma using dry powder inhalers (DPIs) regularly. The control group included sex-, age-, weight-, and height-matched individuals without lung disease. Socioeconomic and clinical variables were collected. PIF and dynamic lung function variables were obtained with a specific device. Between-group comparisons were made with the Student’s t-test and ANOVA. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to assess associations between PIF and the other variables. RESULTS: A total of 88 individuals (44 asthma patients and 44 controls) participated in the study. PIF and respiratory muscle strength (S-index) values were lower in the asthma patients than in the controls. PIF correlated positively with age, weight, height, and S-index in the asthma group. After controlling for height, we found an increase of 0.05 units in PIF associated with an increase of 1 unit in the S-index in the asthma group. CONCLUSIONS: PIF appears to be lower in children and adolescents with asthma than in those without asthma, correlating positively with age, height, weight, and respiratory muscle strength.