Objective: To evaluate the level of self-reported adherence to physical therapy recommendations in pediatric patients (6-17 years) with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to ascertain whether the different levels of adherence correlate with pulmonary function, clinical aspects, and quality of life. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The patients and their legal guardians completed a questionnaire regarding adherence to physical therapy recommendations and a CF quality of life questionnaire. We collected demographic, spirometric, and bacteriological data, as well as recording the frequency of hospitalizations and Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K) clinical scores. Results: We included 66 patients in the study. Mean age, FEV1 (% of predicted), and BMI were 12.2 ± 3.2 years, 90 ± 24%, and 18.3 ± 2.5 kg/m2, respectively. The patients were divided into two groups: high-adherence (n = 39) and moderate/poor-adherence (n = 27). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups regarding age, gender, family income, and total S-K clinical scores. There were statistically significant differences between the high-adherence group and the moderate/poor-adherence group, the latter showing lower scores for the "radiological findings" domain of the S-K clinical score (p = 0.030), a greater number of hospitalizations (p = 0.004), and more days of hospitalization in the last year (p = 0.012), as well as lower scores for the quality of life questionnaire domains emotion (p = 0.002), physical (p = 0.019), treatment burden (p < 0.001), health perceptions (p = 0.036), social (p = 0.039), and respiratory (p = 0.048). Conclusions: Low self-reported adherence to physical therapy recommendations was associated with worse radiological findings, a greater number of hospitalizations, and decreased quality of life in pediatric CF patients.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Patient compliance; Physical therapy modalities; Quality of life.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of nocturnal hypoxemia and its association with pulmonary function, nutritional status, sleep macrostructure, and obstructive respiratory events during sleep in a population of clinically stable children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 67 children and adolescents with CF between 2 and 14 years of age. All of the participants underwent polysomnography, and SpO2 was measured by pulse oximetry. We also evaluated the Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K) scores, spirometry findings, and nutritional status of the patients. Results: The study involved 67 patients. The mean age of the patients was 8 years. The S-K scores differed significantly between the patients with and without nocturnal hypoxemia, which was defined as an SpO2 < 90% for more than 5% of the total sleep time (73.75  6.29 vs. 86.38  8.70; p < 0.01). Nocturnal hypoxemia correlated with the severity of lung disease, FEV1 (rs = −0.42; p = 0.01), FVC (rs = −0.46; p = 0.01), microarousal index (rs = 0.32; p = 0.01), and apnea-hypopnea index (rs = 0.56; p = 0.01). Conclusions: In this sample of patients with CF and mild-to-moderate lung disease, nocturnal oxygenation correlated with the S-K score, spirometry variables, sleep macrostructure variables, and the apnea-hypopnea index.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Sleep; Oximetry.

Objective: To evaluate the association between nutritional status measurements and pulmonary function in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Methods: We evaluated the nutritional status of 48 children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years) with cystic fibrosis based on body mass index (BMI) and body composition measurements-mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) and triceps skinfold thickness (TST)-at a referral center in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pulmonary function was assessed by means of spirometry, using FEV1 to classify the severity of airway obstruction. We used Student's t-tests for comparisons between proportions and linear regression analysis for associations between continuous variables. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The evaluation of nutritional status based on BMI identified a smaller number of malnourished patients than did that based on MAMC (14 vs. 25 patients, respectively). Most of the patients presented mild pulmonary disease. Mean FEV1 was 82.5% of predicted. Pulmonary function was found to correlate significantly with BMI, MAMC and TST (p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.03, respectively). All subjects with moderate or severe pulmonary involvement were considered malnourished based on BMI and body composition parameters. Of the 25 patients considered malnourished based on body composition (MAMC), 19 were considered well-nourished based on their BMI. Conclusions: In the present study, all nutritional status measurements correlated directly with the pulmonary function of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. However, body composition measurements allowed earlier detection of nutritional deficiencies.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Body composition; Spirometry; Nutrition assessment.

Objectives: To characterize the main identified mutations on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in a group of children and adolescents at a cystic fibrosis center and its association with the clinical and laboratorial characteristics. Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study including patients with cystic fibrosis who had two alleles identified with CFTR mutation. Clinical, anthropometrical, laboratorial and pulmonary function (spirometry) data were collected from patients' records in charts and described with the results of the sample genotyping. Results: 42 patients with cystic fibrosis were included in the study. The most frequent mutation was F508del, covering 60 alleles (71.4%). The second most common mutation was G542X (six alleles, 7.1%), followed by N1303K and R1162X mutations (both with four alleles each). Three patients (7.14%) presented type III and IV mutations, and 22 patients (52.38%) presented homozygous mutation for F508del. Thirty three patients (78.6%) suffered of pancreatic insufficiency, 26.2% presented meconium ileus, and 16.7%, nutritional deficit. Of the patients in the study, 59.52% would be potential candidates for the use of CFTR-modulating drugs. Conclusions: The mutations of CFTR identified more frequently were F508del and G542X. These are type II and I mutations, respectively. Along with type III, they present a more severe cystic fibrosis phenotype. More than half of the sample (52.38%) presented homozygous mutation for F508del, that is, patients who could be treated with Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor. Approximately 7% of the patients (7.14%) presented type III and IV mutations, therefore becoming candidates for the treatment with Ivacaftor.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Mutations; Genetics; Phenotype; Child

Objective: To evaluate spirometric patterns of respiratory disorders and their relationship with functional severity and maximal expiratory flows at low lung volumes in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study including adolescents and adults with CF. All of the patients were submitted to spirometry. Patients were classified as having preserved respiratory function, obstructive lung disease (OLD), OLD with reduced FVC, presumptive restrictive lung disease (RLD) or mixed obstructive and restrictive lung disease (MORLD). Maximal expiratory flows at low lung volumes were assessed using FEF25-75%, FEF75% and FEF75%/FVC. We included 65 normal subjects, also submitted to spirometry, as a control group. Results: The study group included 65 patients: 8 (12.3%) with preserved lung function; 18 (27.7%) with OLD; 24 (36.9%) with OLD and reduced FVC; 5 (7.7%) with presumptive RLD; and 10 (15.4%) with MORLD. The FEV1 was significantly lower in the OLD with reduced FVC group and the MORLD group than in the other groups (p < 0.001). In the patients with preserved respiratory function, FEF25-75% and FEF75% were significantly reduced in 1 patient, as was FEF75%/FVC in 2 patients. Conclusions: The respiratory pattern was impaired in 88% of the patients with CF. The most common pattern was OLD with reduced FVC. The degree of functional impairment was greater in the OLD with reduced FVC group and in the MORLD group than in the other groups. Maximal expiratory flows at low lung volumes were impaired in a low percentage of patients with preserved respiratory function.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Respiratory function tests; Spirometry; Maximal expiratory flow-volume curves.

Objective: To evaluate pulmonary function and functional capacity in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 70 children and adolescents (8-15 years of age) with sickle cell disease who underwent pulmonary function tests (spirometry) and functional capacity testing (six-minute walk test). The results of the pulmonary function tests were compared with variables related to the severity of sickle cell disease and history of asthma and of acute chest syndrome. Results: Of the 64 patients who underwent spirometry, 15 (23.4%) showed abnormal results: restrictive lung disease, in 8 (12.5%); and obstructive lung disease, in 7 (10.9%). Of the 69 patients who underwent the six-minute walk test, 18 (26.1%) showed abnormal results regarding the six-minute walk distance as a percentage of the predicted value for age, and there was a ≥ 3% decrease in SpO2 in 36 patients (52.2%). Abnormal pulmonary function was not significantly associated with any of the other variables studied, except for hypoxemia and restrictive lung disease. Conclusions: In this sample of children and adolescents with sickle cell disease, there was a significant prevalence of abnormal pulmonary function. The high prevalence of respiratory disorders suggests the need for a closer look at the lung function of this population, in childhood and thereafter.

Keywords: Anemia, sickle cell; Respiratory function tests; Exercise test.

Objective: To evaluate whether respiratory therapy followed by the use of inhaled albuterol modifies the pulmonary deposition of inhaled tobramycin in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and whether pulmonary deposition correlates with disease severity or genotype. Methods: A prospective study was carried out including patients with CF older than 6 years of age and colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Exclusion criteria were pulmonary exacerbation, changes in therapy between the study phases and FEV1 < 25%. All patients were submitted to pulmonary scintigraphy by means of a scintillation camera equipped with a low-energy all-purpose collimator in order to evaluate drug penetration following the administration of inhaled 99mTc-tobramycin, as well as to pulmonary perfusion with 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin (phase 1). One month later, the same procedure was performed following respiratory therapy and administration of inhaled albuterol (phase 2). Results: We included 24 patients (12 males) aged 5-27 years (mean ± SD: 12.85 ± 6.64 years). The Shwachman score (SS) was excellent/good in 8 patients, moderate/fair in 16 and poor in 0. Genotyping revealed that 7 patients were ΔF508 homozygotes, 13 were ΔF508 heterozygotes; and 4 presented other mutations. In all patients, lung deposition of tobramycin decreased in phase 2, especially in those with moderate/fair SS (p = 0.017) and in heterozygotes (p = 0.043). Conclusions: The use of a respiratory therapy technique and the administration of inhaled albuterol immediately prior to the use of inhaled tobramycin decreased the pulmonary deposition of the latter in CF patients, and this reduction correlates with disease severity and genotype.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Tobramycin; Respiratory therapy; Albuterol; Radionuclide imaging.

Objective: To determine the influence that hospital admission of suckling infants with asthma has on their risk for future admissions for the same cause. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, in which the charts of 202 patients, all less than fifteen years of age, were evaluated. All of the patients had been treated as outpatients in a pediatric pulmonology clinic and had been admitted to the hospital on one or more occasions. A multivariate analysis was conducted in order to evaluate the risk factors associated with multiple hospitalizations. Results: Virtually all of the patients evaluated were hospitalized a second time within 18 months of the first hospitalization. Among the patients first hospitalized at = 12 months of age, the second admission occurred sooner than did that recorded for those first hospitalized at > 12 months of age (p = 0.001). The risk factors found to be associated with multiple hospital admissions were as follows: age at first admission = 12 months (odds ratio: 2.55; 95% confidence interval: 1.18-5.48); age at first admission between 13 and 24 months (odds ratio: 3.54; 95% confidence interval: 1.31-9.63); and severity of asthma symptoms (odds ratio: 3.86; 95% confidence interval: 2.02-7.40). Conclusion: After the first hospitalization, children with asthma should be closely monitored, since the risk of subsequent admissions is elevated in the first months following discharge, especially among those of less than two years of age. Health care facilities should be organized to confront this problem appropriately and should dispense prophylactic medication more freely.

Keywords: Asthma; Child, hospitalized; Patient readmission; Risk factors

Objective: To compare children/adolescents with mild or moderate asthma and healthy subjects in terms of respiratory muscle strength, correlating it with spirometric variables in the former group. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving individuals 6-16 years of age and clinically diagnosed with mild/moderate asthma, together with a group of healthy, age- and gender-matched subjects. We determined spirometric values, as well as MIP and MEP, and we selected three reproducible measurements (variation < 10%). Results: We evaluated 75 patients with asthma and 90 controls. The mean age was 10.0 ± 2.6 years. There were no statistically significant differences between the controls and the asthma group regarding MIP (−89.7 ± 26.7 cmH2O vs. −92.2 ± 26.3 cmH2O; p = 0.541) or MEP (79.2 ± 22.9 cmH2O vs. 86.4 ± 24.0 cmH2O; p = 0.256). The groups were subdivided by age (children and adolescents: 6-12 and 13-16 years of age, respectively). Within the asthma group, there was a significant difference between the child and adolescent subgroups in terms of MEP (74.1 ± 24.1 cmH2O vs. 92.1 ± 21.9 cmH2O; p < 0.001) but not MIP (p = 0.285). Within the control group, there were significant differences between the child and adolescent subgroups in terms of MIP (−79.1 ± 17.7 cmH2O vs. −100.9 ± 28.1 cmH2O; p < 0.001) and MEP (73.9 ± 18.7 cmH2O vs. 90.9 ± 28.1cmH2O; p < 0.001). In the asthma group, spirometric variables did not correlate with MIP or MEP. Conclusions: In our sample, asthma was found to have no significant effect on respiratory muscle strength.

Objective: Respiratory muscle weakness is a functional repercussion of chronic lung disease (CLD). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of home-based respiratory muscle training (RMT) in children and adolescents with CLD or neuromuscular disease (NMD). Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study involving children and adolescents with CLD or NMD. Before and after 6 months of home-based RMT, we measured respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP), PEF, and peak cough flow (PCF). We made statistical comparisons between the pre-RMT and post-RMT values, as well as evaluating the correlation between the duration and effect of RMT. Results: The study included 29 patients, with a mean age of 12 years (range, 5-17 years), of whom 18 (62.1%) were male. The CLD group comprised 11 patients (37.9%), and the NMD group comprised 18 (62.1%). The mean duration of the RMT was 60 weeks (range, 46-90 weeks) in the CLD group and 39 weeks (range, 24-89 weeks) in the NMD group. In comparison with the pre-RMT values, the post-RMT values for MIP and MEP were significantly higher in both groups, whereas those for PEF and PCF were significantly higher only in the NMD group. We found no correlation between the duration and the effect of RMT. Conclusions: Home-based RMT appears to be an effective strategy for increasing respiratory muscle strength in children and adolescents with CLD or NMD, although it increased the ability to cough effectively only in those with NMD.

Keywords: Breathing exercises; Cystic fibrosis; Bronchiolitis obliterans; Neuromuscular diseases; Cough.

Objective: To analyze the shuttle walk test, and its respective retest, comparing children with cystic fibrosis (CF) to normal children. Methods: The children were divided into two groups: the CF group, composed of children in whom the diagnosis had been confirmed through sweat testing; and the control group, composed of normal children with no history of pulmonary diseases and no alterations in respiratory function. The children were submitted to at least two consecutive tests, 30 min apart. We evaluated distance walked, cardiac overload, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and subjective perception of exertion (dyspnea at rest scale and Borg dyspnea scale). Results: A total of 28 children were evaluated. Ages ranged from 7 to 15 years (11.57 ± 2.50 and 11.28 ± 1.85 years for the CF and control groups, respectively). The Borg scale scores were significantly higher in the controls (p = 0.007). No differences were found regarding cardiac overload and SpO2. In relation to the intergroup retest, the controls presented significant improvements on the second test, both in the distance walked and in dyspnea at rest (p = 0.014 and p = 0.036, respectively). The CF group presented a significant improvement only in the dyspnea at rest score (p = 0.168 and p = 0.042, respectively). Conclusion: The cardiac overload imposed by the test did not differ between the groups. The greater fatigue at the beginning of the second test suggests that the 30 min rest between the tests was insufficient.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Exercise test; Heart rate.

Objective: Depression and anxiety have been documented in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), jeopardizing treatment adherence. To date, no studies have assessed the prevalence of psychosocial issues in adolescents with CF in Brazil. We sought to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety in adolescents with CF in Brazil, as well as the impact of depression and anxiety on treatment adherence. Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational, longitudinal study conducted between 2017 and 2019 at 14 CF referral centers in Brazil. We used standardized tools such as the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (for depression), the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (for anxiety), and the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (for treatment adherence) in order to collect data on 218 CF patients at two different time points. Results: The prevalence of depression was 19.1% at time point 1 and 15.4% at time point 2. The prevalence of anxiety was 19.1% at time point 1 and 18.0% at time point 2. Depression and anxiety were significantly higher in female patients and lower in those who underwent home physiotherapy or had psychological support. Significant correlations were found between depression and anxiety at both time points, the associations being strongest at time point 1 (r = 0.68; p < 0.001). Most (66.7%) of the study participants reported low adherence to treatment, and the remainder reported either average adherence (in 28%) or high adherence (in 5.3%). Depression and anxiety showed inverse correlations with treatment adherence. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression and anxiety in adolescents with CF in Brazil appears to be similar to that reported in other countries, being higher in females and lower in those undergoing home physiotherapy or receiving psychological care. Depression and anxiety appear to correlate with lower treatment adherence. Treating psychosocial issues may effectively improve rates of treatment adherence in adolescents with CF.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Anxiety; Depression; Treatment adherence and compliance; Adolescent.

Objective: To assess the agreement among asthma control measures and functional exercise capacity in children and adolescents with uncontrolled and controlled asthma. Methods: Children and adolescents with asthma from 7-17 years old were selected, and they were attended in the "Pediatric Pulmonology Outpatient Clinic of State University of Campinas", in Brazil. All patients had asthma control level assessed by Global Initiative for Asthma questionnaire (GINAq), Asthma Control Test (ACT), spirometry and six-minute-walk-test (6MWT). Patients were classified as uncontrolled or controlled asthma in each test and agreement among measures was assessed by kappa statistics. The ROC curve was calculated for the 6MWT. The spirometric index obtained from spirometry was composed by FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75%. Spirometry and 6MWT results were compared between uncontrolled and controlled asthma group by GINAq. Results: Of the 138 subjects included, 78 (56.5%) were male with median age of 11 (7-17) years old. GINAq detected 68.8% of patients with uncontrolled asthma. Moderate agreement (p < 0.001; k = 0.56) and high specificity (100%) was observed between GINAq and ACT. In 6MWT, the cut-off point of 82.03% of predicted distance was able to distinguish patients with controlled and uncontrolled asthma. Spirometric index presented 73.4% of sensitivity according to GINAq. The results for 6MWT in patients with uncontrolled asthma were the worst of all. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of assessing more than one measure to differentiate asthma control level. GINAq identified more patients with uncontrolled asthma and presented moderate agreement with ACT. Spirometric index was associated with uncontrolled asthma according to GINAq. 6MWT was a suitable measure to distinguish patients with controlled and uncontrolled asthma.

Keywords: Asthma; Asthma control; Spirometry; Walk test; Children.

Objective: To study correlations among pulmonary function, chest radiology and clinical status in cystic fibrosis. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate chest X-rays and clinical charts of patients treated at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Spirometry findings, Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K) scores and Brasfield scores were analyzed. Results: The final sample consisted of 40 patients (mean age 9.72 ± 3.27). The following mean S-K scores were obtained: total, 80.87 ± 10.24; general activity, 24.75 ± 1.1; physical examination, 18.87 ± 4.59; nutrition, 21.87 ± 4.18; radiology, 15.37 ± 5.23. The mean Brasfield score was 18.2 ± 4. The pulmonary function test results, in percentage of predicted, were as follows: forced vital capacity (FVC), 82.99 ± 14.36%; forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), 83.62 ± 18.26%; and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75), 74.63 ± 2.53%. The S-K score correlated moderately with FVC, whereas it correlated strongly with FEV1 and FEF25-75. The Brasfield score correlated strongly with the S-K total and radiology score, whereas it correlated moderately with pulmonary function. Physical examination correlated moderately with FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75; as did nutrition with FEF25-75; and radiology with FEV1 and FEF25-75. General activity was the domain that had the greatest influence on the total S-K score. Conclusions: These two scoring systems are complementary, correlating with each other, as well as with pulmonary function tests. The radiology domain of the S-K scoring system is a good alternative to the Brasfield score.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Spirometry; Lung/radiography.

Objective: To determine the effect that re-education of the thoracic and abdominal muscles has on the respiratory muscle strength of patients with cystic fibrosis evaluated over time at the Cystic Fibrosis Outpatient Clinic of the Universidade Católica de Brasília (Catholic University of Brasília). Methods: The sample consisted of 29 cystic fibrosis patients, characterized based on anthropometric, genetic and bacterial colonization data. The patients were submitted to physical therapy sessions, involving re-education of the respiratory muscles, twice a week for four months. Spirometry, pressure manometry and anthropometry were performed before and after each session. Results: Comparing baselines values to those obtained after physical therapy, increases in maximum inspiratory pressure and maximum expiratory pressure were observed in all patients, those without any obstructive respiratory disease and those with mild obstructive respiratory disease (p < 0.05). A positive correlation between age and maximum expiratory pressure was observed for most of the patients. Maximum inspiratory pressure correlated positively with age only in the group with mild obstructive respiratory disease (p = 0.012; r = 0.817). In female patients and in the group of patients without obstructive respiratory disease, a negative correlation was observed between maximum expiratory pressure and colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p = 0.036; r = -0.585). Conclusion: Use of the thoracic and abdominal muscle re-education technique increased respiratory muscle strength in the cystic fibrosis patients studied, a finding that underscores the importance of including physical therapy in the treatment of these patients.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis/rehabilitation; Physical therapy technique; Respiratory muscles; Forced expiratory volume; Inspiratory capacity; Vital capacity

Nonadherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy is common and has a negative effect on clinical control, as well as increasing morbidity rates, mortality rates and health care costs. This review was conducted using direct searches, together with the following sources: Medline; HighWire; and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature database. Searches included articles published between 1992 and 2008. The following methods of assessing adherence, listed in ascending order by degree of objectivity, were identified: patient or family reports; clinical judgment; weighing/dispensing of medication, electronic medication monitoring; and (rarely) biochemical analysis. Adherence rates ranged from 30 to 70%. It is recognized that the degree of adherence determined by patient/family reports or by clinical judgment is exaggerated in comparison with that obtained using electronic medication monitors. Physicians should bear in mind that true adherence rates are lower than those reported by patients, and this should be considered in cases of poor clinical control. Weighing the spray quantifies the medication and infers adherence. However, there can be deliberate emptying of inhalers and medication sharing. Pharmacies provide the dates on which the medication was dispensed and refilled. This strategy is valid and should be used in Brazil. The use of electronic medication monitors, which provide the date and time of each triggering of the medication device, although costly, is the most accurate method of assessing adherence. The results obtained with such monitors demonstrate that adherence was lower than expected. Physicians should improve their knowledge on patient adherence and use accurate methods of assessing such adherence.

Keywords: Patient compliance; Asthma/therapy; Asthma/prevention & control.

Background: Several factors influence the pulmonary function values considered normal. In children of short stature, there are difficulties in interpreting the pulmonary function. Objective: To assess spirometric values in children and adolescents with short stature and to identify a correction factor to adequately predict the expected values for this population. Method: A prospective selection of 77 patients was made, all with short stature and no respiratory disease. These patients were submitted to spirometry, transcutaneous hemoglobin oxygen saturation, chest perimeter measurement, and immediate hypersensitivity testing. Bone age was assessed by wrist X-rays. The data obtained by spirometry (FVC, FEV1, and FEF25-75%) were compared with those of Polgar and Promadhat (1971), predicted in three ways: a) by actual height; b) by height estimated at the 50th percentile for chronological age (CA); c) by height estimated at the 50th percentile for bone age (BA). Results: The mean height was 133.3 ± 13.2 cm, and the deficit in relation to the third percentile was 5.4 ± 6.0 cm. The values obtained for FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75%, were significantly higher than those predicted by actual height. The mean FEV1 obtained was 2.42 ± 0.71 L, and the predicted (actual height) was 2.10 ± 0.64 L; according to the height estimated by BA and CA, the values were 2.27 and 2.86 L, respectively. The mean FVC1 was 2.20 ± 0.6 L, and the predicted was 1.90 ± 0.55 L. With the height estimated for bone age and chronologic age, the predicted values were 2.10 and 2.60 L, respectively. Conclusion: Children and adolescents with short stature have higher spirometric values than predicted for their actual height. These findings suggest that the height estimated at the 50th percentile for bone age can be used to evaluate pulmonary function.

Keywords: Lung function. Short stature.