Reference values for sniff nasal inspiratory pressure in healthy subjects in Brazil: a multicenter study

• Published in: Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 700 - 707
• Main Authors: Araújo, Palomma Russelly Saldanha, Resqueti, Vanessa Regiane, Nascimento Junior, Jasiel, Carvalho, Larissa de Andrade, Cavalcanti, Ana Gabriela Leal, Silva, Viviane Cerezer, Silva, Ester, Moreno, Marlene Aparecida, Andrade, Arméle de Fátima Dornelas de, Fregonezi, Guilherme Augusto de Freitas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brazil; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Inhalation - physiology; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength - physiology; Predictive Value of Tests; Pressure; Reference Values; Respiratory Muscles - physiology; Spirometry; Young Adult; Brazil
• ISSN: 1806-3756
• DOI: 10.1590/s1806-37132012000600004

The objectives of this study were to determine reference values for sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) and to propose reference equations for the population of Brazil. We evaluated 243 healthy individuals (111 males and 132 females), between 20 and 80 years of age, with an FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio > 80% and > 85% of the predicted value, respectively. All of the subjects underwent respiratory muscle strength tests to determine MIP, MEP, and SNIP. We found that SNIP values were higher in males than in females (p < 0.05) and that SNIP correlated negatively with age, for males (r = -0.29; p < 0.001) and for females (r = -0.33; p < 0.0001). Linear regression also revealed that age influenced the predicted SNIP, for males (R² = 0.09) and females (R² = 0.10). We obtained predicted SNIP values that were higher than those obtained for other populations. We have devised predictive equations for SNIP to be used in adults (20-80 years of age) in Brazil. These equations could help minimize diagnostic discrepancies among individuals.