Spirometry and peak cough flow testing (PCF) are commonly used in the respiratory assessment of children with a neuromuscular disorder (NMD). Testing uses two different machines, increases laboratory time, costs and resource utilisation. No studies have assessed the correlation between peak expiratory flow (PEF) obtained from spirometry and PCF in children with NMD using one device. An audit of children with a NMD managed at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in 2022–2024 aged < 20 years who performed spirometry and PCF testing on the same device (Vyaire Body Box, Ultrasonic flow meter-based, or Vyaire Pneumotachograph, Pneumotach flow meter-based; Germany) was conducted to assess the correlation between PCF and PEF. Fifty-one sets of testing were identified, and 40 subjects (9F) had reproducible testing and were included. Median (range) age was 14.95 (7.20–19.00) years. Median PEF (L/min) was 4.05 (1.22–10.26) and median PCF (L/min) was 4.29 (1.69–10.82). PEF and PCF had a strong Pearson’s correlation coefficient, (R = 0.97, p = 0.03). The coefficient of determination was 0.93. If laboratory resources permit, spirometry should be the test of choice for children with NMD. On average, spirometry required multiple practices to achieve reproducibility to meet ATS/ERS standards. PCF testing can be utilised for children where performing technically acceptable spirometry is not possible.

中文翻译：

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神经肌肉疾病儿童咳嗽峰值流量和呼气峰值流量的比较

肺活量测定和峰值咳嗽流量测试 (PCF) 通常用于神经肌肉疾病 (NMD) 儿童的呼吸评估。测试使用两台不同的机器，增加了实验室时间、成本和资源利用率。尚无研究评估使用一种设备从肺活量测定法获得的 NMD 儿童呼气峰流量 (PEF) 与 PCF 之间的相关性。对 2022 年至 2024 年 Westmead 儿童医院管理的年龄 < 20 岁的患有 NMD 的儿童进行的审计，这些儿童在同一设备（Vyaire Body Box、基于超声波流量计或 Vyaire Pneumotachograph、Pneumotach 流量计）上进行肺活量测定和 PCF 测试-基于；德国）进行了评估 PCF 和 PEF 之间的相关性。确定了 51 组测试，40 名受试者 (9F) 进行了可重复的测试并被纳入其中。中位年龄（范围）为 14.95 (7.20–19.00) 岁。中位 PEF (L/min) 为 4.05 (1.22–10.26)，中位 PCF (L/min) 为 4.29 (1.69–10.82)。 PEF 和 PCF 具有很强的 Pearson 相关系数（R = 0.97，p = 0.03）。决定系数为0.93。如果实验室资源允许，肺活量测定应该是 NMD 儿童的首选测试。平均而言，肺活量测定需要多次实践才能实现可重复性，以满足 ATS/ERS 标准。 PCF 测试可用于无法进行技术上可接受的肺活量测定的儿童。