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Equations of Gauld et al for Predicting FEV1, FVC and MMEF in Children Based on Age and the Length of the Ulna

Purpose: To estimate pulmonary function parameters for a child 7-18 years old using ulnar length, age and gender in the equations of Gauld et al.

Description

Several measures of pulmonary function change with growth of a child. Using the ulna as a growth measure is useful in a child whose height is difficult to measure. The authors are from the Royal Children's Hospital and University of Melbourne in Australia.


Subject selection: children aged 7-18 years

 

Parameters:

(1) gender

(2) age in years

(3) ulnar length in cm

 

Measurement of ulna:

(1) The left arm is rested on a table with palm down and the elbow bent at 90°.

(2) The distance from the distal lateral end of the ulna at the wrist to the proximal end at the elbow is measured with calipers.

 

FEV1 in liters =

= EXP(X)

 

FVC in liters =

= EXP(Y)

 

mid-expiratory flow rate (MMEF) in liters per second =

= EXP(Z)

 

Value

Gender

Equation

X

male

(0.071 * (ulna length in cm)) + (0.046 * (age in years)) - 1.269

 

female

(0.072 * (ulna length in cm)) + (0.041 * (age in years)) - 1.272

Y

male

(0.077 * (ulna length in cm)) + (0.041 * (age in years)) - 1.285

 

female

(0.078 * (ulna length in cm)) + (0.037 * (age in years)) - 1.315

Z

male

(0.060 * (ulna length in cm)) + (0.053 * (age in years)) - 1.013

 

female

(0.053 * (ulna length in cm)) + (0.054 * (age in years)) - 0.806

from Table 3, page 807


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Specialty

Objective

ICD-10