STATUS OF PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS IN ADOLESCENT FEMALES

Spirometry and Pulmonary function testing is a valuable tool for the evaluation of the respiratory system to monitor the functional status of respiratory system, symptoms and signs of pulmonary diseases, to assess the influence of a disease on pulmonary function and to screen persons at risk. The present study was conducted to define the status of PFT in adolescent females as compared to males of same age group with normal reference values and ultimately to establish physiological norms to predict lung volumes. The study was conducted on 200 normal healthy volunteers of adolescent males and females of age ranging from 15 to 19 yrs of first MBBS, BDS and BPT students of Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada in the department of Physiology. The measurements FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC% and PEFR were made by using computerised spirometer SPIROWIN 0.2 version, genesis pvt. Ltd. The measurements are made according to the recommendations of the European respiratory society standards with the subject standing in an upright position and wearing a nose clip. Lung volumes appear to be 5 to 10% less than the predicted values and especially the PEFR is significantly less in both males and females of adolescent age group irrespective of height.