Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Measurement Questions & Answers

1. DeVrieze BW, Modi P, Giwa AO. Peak Flow Rate Measurement. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls; 2021. [Full Text].

2. Gibson PG. Monitoring the patient with asthma: an evidence-based approach. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000 Jul. 106 (1 Pt 1):17-26. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

3. Eid N, Yandell B, Howell L, Eddy M, Sheikh S. Can peak expiratory flow predict airflow obstruction in children with asthma?. Pediatrics. 2000 Feb. 105 (2):354-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

4. Enright P, McCormack M. Assessing the airways. Chron Respir Dis. 2008. 5 (2):115-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

5. Chan CC, Wu TH. Effects of ambient ozone exposure on mail carriers' peak expiratory flow rates. Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Jun. 113 (6):735-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

6. So JY, Lastra AC, Zhao H, Marchetti N, Criner GJ. Daily Peak Expiratory Flow Rate and Disease Instability in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2015 Nov 11. 3 (1):398-405. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

7. Murata GH, Kapsner CO, Lium DJ, Busby HK. Patient compliance with peak flow monitoring in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Med Sci. 1998 May. 315 (5):296-301. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

8. de la Iglesia F, Díaz JL, Pita S, Nicolás R, Ramos V, Pellicer C, et al. Peak expiratory flow rate as predictor of inpatient death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. South Med J. 2005 Mar. 98 (3):266-72. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

9. Feldman JM, Kutner H, Matte L, Lupkin M, Steinberg D, Sidora-Arcoleo K, et al. Prediction of peak flow values followed by feedback improves perception of lung function and adherence to inhaled corticosteroids in children with asthma. Thorax. 2012 Dec. 67 (12):1040-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

10. Cevik Guner U, Celebioglu A. Impact of symptom management training among asthmatic children and adolescents on self-efficacy and disease course. J Asthma. 2015 Oct. 52 (8):858-65. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

11. [Guideline] National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma: Full Report 2007. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Available at https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/media/docs/asthgdln_1.pdf. August 2007; Accessed: February 15, 2022.

12. Redline S, Wright EC, Kattan M, Kercsmar C, Weiss K. Short-term compliance with peak flow monitoring: results from a study of inner city children with asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1996 Apr. 21 (4):203-10. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

13. Kamps AW, Roorda RJ, Brand PL. Peak flow diaries in childhood asthma are unreliable. Thorax. 2001 Mar. 56 (3):180-2. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

14. Self TH, George CM, Wallace JL, Patterson SJ, Finch CK. Incorrect use of peak flow meters: are you observing your patients?. J Asthma. 2014 Aug. 51 (6):566-72. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Gorelick MH, Stevens MW, Schultz T, Scribano PV. Difficulty in obtaining peak expiratory flow measurements in children with acute asthma. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2004 Jan. 20 (1):22-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

16. Yoos HL, Kitzman H, McMullen A, Henderson C, Sidora K. Symptom monitoring in childhood asthma: a randomized clinical trial comparing peak expiratory flow rate with symptom monitoring. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2002 Mar. 88 (3):283-91. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

17. Ayala GX, Gillette C, Williams D, Davis S, Yeatts KB, Carpenter DM, et al. A prospective examination of asthma symptom monitoring: provider, caregiver and pediatric patient influences on peak flow meter use. J Asthma. 2014 Feb. 51 (1):84-90. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Reddel HK, Marks GB, Jenkins CR. When can personal best peak flow be determined for asthma action plans?. Thorax. 2004 Nov. 59 (11):922-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

19. Wisnivesky JP, Lorenzo J, Lyn-Cook R, Newman T, Aponte A, Kiefer E, et al. Barriers to adherence to asthma management guidelines among inner-city primary care providers. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Sep. 101 (3):264-70. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

20. Lum EY, Sharpe HM, Nilsson C, Andrews EM, Tsuyuki RT, Mayers I, et al. Urban and rural differences in the management of asthma amongst primary care physicians in Alberta. Can J Clin Pharmacol. 2007 Fall. 14 (3):e275-82. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

21. Bhogal S, Zemek R, Ducharme FM. Written action plans for asthma in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jul 19. 3:CD005306. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

22. Ignacio-Garcia JM, Gonzalez-Santos P. Asthma self-management education program by home monitoring of peak expiratory flow. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995 Feb. 151 (2 Pt 1):353-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

23. Lahdensuo A, Haahtela T, Herrala J, Kava T, Kiviranta K, Kuusisto P, et al. Randomised comparison of guided self management and traditional treatment of asthma over one year. BMJ. 1996 Mar 23. 312 (7033):748-52. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

24. Brouwer AF, Brand PL. Asthma education and monitoring: what has been shown to work. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2008 Sep. 9 (3):193-9; quiz 199-200. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

25. Powell H, Gibson PG. Options for self-management education for adults with asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003. CD004107. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

26. Bheekie A, Syce JA, Weinberg EG. Peak expiratory flow rate and symptom self-monitoring of asthma initiated from community pharmacies. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001 Aug. 26 (4):287-96. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

27. Goodacre S, Bradburn M, Cohen J, Gray A, Benger J, Coats T, et al. Prediction of unsuccessful treatment in patients with severe acute asthma. Emerg Med J. 2014 Oct. 31 (e1):e40-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

28. Liu AH. Biomarkers and childhood asthma: improving control today and tomorrow. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2005 Jul-Aug. 26 (4):249-54. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

29. Harirah HM, Donia SE, Nasrallah FK, Saade GR, Belfort MA. Effect of gestational age and position on peak expiratory flow rate: a longitudinal study. Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Feb. 105 (2):372-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

30. Radeos MS, Camargo CA Jr. Predicted peak expiratory flow: differences across formulae in the literature. Am J Emerg Med. 2004 Nov. 22 (7):516-21. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

31. Hankinson JL, Odencrantz JR, Fedan KB. Spirometric reference values from a sample of the general U.S. population. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999 Jan. 159 (1):179-87. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

Daniel R Neuspiel, MD, MPH, FAAP Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System)

Daniel R Neuspiel, MD, MPH, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: Academic Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Phi Beta Kappa, Physicians for a National Health Program, Physicians for Human Rights

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Cheryl D Courtlandt, MD Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine; Medical Director, Pediatric Asthma Program, Attending Physician, Department of Pediatrics, Levine Children's Hospital, Carolinas Medical Center

Cheryl D Courtlandt, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Academic Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Zab Mosenifar, MD, FACP, FCCP Geri and Richard Brawerman Chair in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Professor and Executive Vice Chairman, Department of Medicine, Medical Director, Women's Guild Lung Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Zab Mosenifar, MD, FACP, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael R Filbin, MD, FACEP Clinical Instructor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

Michael R Filbin, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Massachusetts Medical Society, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Thanks to Yiqing Alex Sheng for posing for photographs.

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Lars Grimm with the literature review and referencing for this article.

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