Short-term repeatability of maximal respiratory pressures in healthy volunteers measured with a novel respiratory health meter.

Abstract

Introduction: Measuring respiratory pressures is part of assessment of respiratory system. Portable handheld devices have made measurements more accessible in clinics, but reliable consumer devices are still uncommon. A novel respiratory health meter (WellO2-RHM) was developed as a self-administered meter for respiratory training device (WellO2).

Aims and objectives: We aimed to investigate the short-term repeatability of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) measured with a WellO2-RHM in healthy volunteers using a time interval of one week. We hypothesized, that within that time interval with no respiratory training, MIP and MEP values would be repeatable and reproducible.

Methods: Healthy volunteers (14 males and 10 females) performed MIP and MEP measurements with a WellO2-RHM in two occasions one week apart. The highest individual values of 3-8 successive measurements were recorded. All measurements were guided by the same trained technician. We assessed short-term repeatability by the Coefficient of Variation (CV), Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Standard Error of Measurement (SEm).

Results: Short-term repeatability measured with WellO2-RHM in healthy volunteers in terms of CV, ICC and SEm was for MIP 10.0 %, 0.825 (p<0.001) and 7 cmH2O and for MEP 9.1%, 0.895 (p<0.001) and 12 cmH2O, respectively.

Conclusions: Short-term repeatability of MIP and MEP measured with a WellO2-RHM in healthy volunteers without any respiratory training was good; CV was within 10 % and ICC > 0.8 for both MIP and MEP. The results suggest that WellO2-RHM could be used for assessment of respiratory training effects.