TY - JOUR
T1 - Reference Equations for Maximal Respiratory Pressures in Healthy Children and Adolescents
AU - Barral-Fernández, Margarita
AU - Jácome Pumar, María Amalia
AU - Souto-Camba, Sonia
AU - González-Doniz, Luz
AU - Ramón Belmonte, María Antonia
AU - Amor-Barbosa, Marta
AU - Arbillaga-Etxarri, Ane
AU - Mazzucco, Guillermo
AU - Bravo Cortés, Pilar
AU - del Corral, Tamara
AU - Martín-Valero, Rocío
AU - Llorca Cerdà, Carlos
AU - Murcia Lillo, Fabiola
AU - Sanchez-Santos, Jose Antonio
AU - Francín-Gallego, Marina
AU - Martín Cortijo, Concepción
AU - García Delgado, Esther
AU - Serrano Veguillas, Cristina
AU - Varas de la Fuente, Ana B.
AU - San José Herranz, Paula
AU - González Montañez, Carolina
AU - Gimeno-Santos, Elena
AU - Torres-Castro, Rodrigo
AU - Fregonezi, Guilherme A.F.
AU - Pardàs Peraferrer, Mireia
AU - Vilaró Casamitjana, Jordi
AU - Fernandez-Cadenas, Angeles
AU - Ríos-Cortes, Antonio T.
AU - Moreno Valera, María José
AU - Langer, Daniel
AU - Lista-Paz, Ana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s)
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Objectives: Maximal respiratory pressures are key indicators of respiratory muscle strength; however, reference equations and cut-offs to define respiratory muscle weakness are scarce in the European paediatric population. The aim was to create sex-specific reference equations for maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (PImax/PEmax) in a large sample of healthy children and to objectively establish cut-offs to define respiratory muscle weakness. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted across 14 Spanish centres. Healthy children aged 6–18 years, stratified by sex and age, were recruited. Maximal respiratory pressures were measured following standardized methodology in accordance with international guidelines. Reference equations were developed through multiple linear regression analyses. Age- and sex specific cut-offs for respiratory muscle weakness were determined using Z-scores ≥ 1.645 standard deviation (SD) below group means. Results: The final sample included 513 subjects (257 boys; 11.5 [SD3.5] years). Reference equations are: (1) PImax: boys = −41.41 + 10.21 * age + 6.26 * body mass index (BMI) − 0.37 * age * BMI; girls = 125.96–0.34 * age − 0.41 * age2 − 5.75 * BMI + 0.63 * age * BMI; (2) PEmax: boys = 20.93 + 5.23 * age + 2.93 * BMI; girls = −12.67 + 11.98 * age − 0.39 * age2 + 2.57 * BMI. Cut-offs for respiratory muscle weakness are higher in boys and increase with age (p < .001). Depending on age, PImax cut-offs range from 46 to 85 cmH2O in boys and from 45 to 68 cmH2O in girls, while PEmax cut-offs span 54–98 cmH2O in boys and 57–85 cmH2O in girls. Conclusions: This study provides new reference equations for PImax and PEmax derived from the largest dataset of normative values in European children and adolescents. It also establishes age-specific cut-offs to define respiratory muscle weakness. These findings will facilitate the identification of respiratory muscle weakness and the selection of candidates for targeted training programmes.
AB - Objectives: Maximal respiratory pressures are key indicators of respiratory muscle strength; however, reference equations and cut-offs to define respiratory muscle weakness are scarce in the European paediatric population. The aim was to create sex-specific reference equations for maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (PImax/PEmax) in a large sample of healthy children and to objectively establish cut-offs to define respiratory muscle weakness. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted across 14 Spanish centres. Healthy children aged 6–18 years, stratified by sex and age, were recruited. Maximal respiratory pressures were measured following standardized methodology in accordance with international guidelines. Reference equations were developed through multiple linear regression analyses. Age- and sex specific cut-offs for respiratory muscle weakness were determined using Z-scores ≥ 1.645 standard deviation (SD) below group means. Results: The final sample included 513 subjects (257 boys; 11.5 [SD3.5] years). Reference equations are: (1) PImax: boys = −41.41 + 10.21 * age + 6.26 * body mass index (BMI) − 0.37 * age * BMI; girls = 125.96–0.34 * age − 0.41 * age2 − 5.75 * BMI + 0.63 * age * BMI; (2) PEmax: boys = 20.93 + 5.23 * age + 2.93 * BMI; girls = −12.67 + 11.98 * age − 0.39 * age2 + 2.57 * BMI. Cut-offs for respiratory muscle weakness are higher in boys and increase with age (p < .001). Depending on age, PImax cut-offs range from 46 to 85 cmH2O in boys and from 45 to 68 cmH2O in girls, while PEmax cut-offs span 54–98 cmH2O in boys and 57–85 cmH2O in girls. Conclusions: This study provides new reference equations for PImax and PEmax derived from the largest dataset of normative values in European children and adolescents. It also establishes age-specific cut-offs to define respiratory muscle weakness. These findings will facilitate the identification of respiratory muscle weakness and the selection of candidates for targeted training programmes.
KW - Maximal respiratory pressures
KW - Muscle strength
KW - Paediatrics
KW - Reference values
KW - Respiratory function tests
KW - Respiratory muscles
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018701273
U2 - 10.1016/j.arbres.2025.09.009
DO - 10.1016/j.arbres.2025.09.009
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105018701273
SN - 0300-2896
JO - Archivos de Bronconeumologia
JF - Archivos de Bronconeumologia
ER -