respiratory resistance by impulse oscillometry in healthy iranian children aged 5-19 years.

the impulse oscillation system (ios) measures respiratory impedance (zrs) in terms of resistance (rrs) and reactance (xrs) at multiples of 5 hz. these measurements can be used clinically to help diagnose and monitor respiratory disorders, independent of effort. there is, as yet, no information on reference values for ios in iranian adolescents. the predictive equation for resistance and impedance at 5 and 15 and 25 hz, for the first time, in 509 iranian adolescent subjects (265 boys (aged 6-19 years) and 253 girls (aged 5-19 years) were determined. gender-specific linear prediction equations were developed by multiple regression analysis; with measuring (r5, r15, r25, x5, x15, x 25) as dependent variables regressed against age (a) and height (h). for both genders, age and height had negative effects on resistance, while age and height had a positive effect on reactance. the prediction equations for r5 and x5 are as follows: r5: -1.35×10 -5  × age×2.823 - 0.001 × height ×1.022 + 0.547 for girls x5: 1.78×10 -7 × age ×1.08 + 0.002 height ×4.150 - 0.539, for girls r5: -6.19×10 -7 × age × 3.820 - 6.78e-005 ×height ×1.651 + 0.691 for boys x5: 6.95×10 -23  × age ×16.226 + 0.004height × 0.846- 0.430, for boys, respectively. our results therefore provide an original frame of reference for r5, r15, r25, x5, x15, x25 in iranian adolescents population, obtained from a standardized forced oscillation technique.