The PEFR is the maximum rate of airflow that can be achieved during a sudden
forced expiration form a position of full inspiration.
The good points
about PEFR are:
- the PEFR reflects the calibre of the airways and is
most useful for day-to-day monitoring of asthma
- the PEFR device is cheap
The bad points about PEFR are that the value depends
Also PEFR is a measure of
airflow and cannot detect restrictive ventilatory defects, such as those caused
by pulmonary fibrosis, since these reduce lung volume but do not affect airflow
here to download the normal adult values chart
here to download the normal paediatric values chart
- The Practitioner 2005; 249:180-88.