An assessment of three portable peak flow meters.
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#Peak flow meter full
Full textįull text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. This may lead to incorrect diagnosis and bias in implementing strategies of asthma treatment based on PEF measurement. CONCLUSION: Although the Mini-Wright, Ferraris, and Vitalograph meters gave remarkably repeatable results their error profiles for the full range meters will lead to important errors in recording PEF variability. For the low range devices the Vitalograph device was accurate to within 10 l/min up to 200 l/min, with the Mini-Wright overreading by up to 30 l/min above 150 l/min. A Micro-Medical Turbine meter was accurate up to 400 l/min and then began to underread by up to 60 l/min at 720 l/min. This overreading was greatest for the Mini-Wright and Ferraris devices, and less so for the original Wright and Vitalograph meters. PEF meters based on the Wright meter all had similar error profiles with overreading of up to 80 l/min in the mid flow range from 300 to 500 l/min. The between instrument variation in reading for six identical devices expressed as a 95% confidence limit was, on average across the range of flows, +/- 8.5 l/min for the Mini-Wright, +/- 7.9 l/min for the Vitalograph, and +/- 6.4 l/min for the Ferraris. RESULTS: For each device tested the readings were highly repeatable to within the limits of accuracy with which the pointer position can be assessed by eye. METHODS: The response of several portable PEF meters was tested with absolute standards of flow generated by a computer driven, servo controlled pump and their response was compared with that of a pneumotachograph. As the accuracy and linearity of portable PEF meters have not been rigorously tested in recent years this aspect of their performance has been investigated. It is essential for PEF meters to have a linear response in order to obtain an unbiased measurement of PEF variability. They will only keep your asthma under control if you use them correctly.BACKGROUND: The variability of peak expiratory flow (PEF) is now commonly used in the diagnosis and management of asthma.
#Peak flow meter how to
Make sure you know how to use your asthma medications properly. See your doctor about making treatment changes. If you frequently use a quick-relief inhaler to treat symptoms, your asthma isn't under control. Long-term control medications are the key to keeping your asthma controlled and in the green zone. Knowing when to use these medications can help prevent an impending asthma attack. They're used as needed to quickly open your airways and make breathing easier. These medications are sometimes called rescue inhalers. Quick-relief inhalers contain a fast-acting medication such as albuterol.Used on a daily basis, these medications can reduce or eliminate asthma flare-ups. These preventive medications treat the airway inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms. Long-term control medications such as inhaled corticosteroids are the most important medications used to keep asthma under control.There are two main types of medications used to treat asthma: Less than 60% of your predicted personal best
More than 80% of your predicted personal bestĦ0 to 80% of your predicted personal best Quick-relief inhaler use to control symptoms Symptoms such as coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath Levels of asthma control in children older than 12 and adults
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