Utility of the peak expiratory flow rate in the differentiation of acute dyspnea : cardiacand pulmonary origin

Abstract EN

This study examined the utility of a peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measurement in the differention of acute moderate to severe dyspnea secondary to congestive heart failure or chronic lung disease.

A PEFR was determined in 56 episodes of acute respiratory distress in 56 patients prior to emergency department therapy.

The mean PEFR +/ - sD for the congestive heart failure group (n = 26) was 229.9 + / - 60.70 L / min, which was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than that of the chronic lung disease group (n = 30) which had a mean PEFR of 121.12 + / - 44.9$ L / min.

No single cut off value allowed 100 % accurate classification, but the results suggest that the PEFR may be a useful adjective tool in the differentiation of acute dyspnea of cardiac and pulmonary origin.