Affiliations 

  • 1 University Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur
  • 2 Primary Care Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur
  • 3 University Department of Public Health, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom.
Med J Malaysia, 1999 Mar;54(1):11-21.
PMID: 10971999

Abstract

An epidemiological survey was conducted among 1,414 healthy ambulatory elderly persons aged 55 years and above in the Kuala Langat district, Selangor. The relationship between peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), demographic variables, socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol use and respiratory symptoms were examined. The peak expiratory flow declined with age and were lower in women of all ages. Smoking had a modest effect on PEFR in men but not on PEFR in women. The combination of respiratory symptoms of cough, phlegm and wheeze were related to lower PEFR values. Prediction equations are presented derived from the population sample which may be of assistance in assessing observed to expected ratios among elderly people in Malaysia.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.