RESUMEN

【Objective】 To generate reference values for inspiratory muscle of preschool children in Nanjing, so as to provide a reference index for evaluating children′s lung function and exercise performance. 【Methods】 A total of 236 preschool children were selected from the main urban area of Nanjing by stratified cluster sampling.The inspiratory muscles were evaluated by breath link respiratory function evaluation system to obtain the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and inspiratory peak flow rate.Pearson analysis was used to determine the correlation of MIP and inspiratory peak flow rate with gender, age, height and weight.Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis was used to obtain the formula of MIP and inspiratory peak flow rate. 【Results】 Differences in MIP and peak inspiratory flow rate were not significant between boys and girls (P>0.05), but were statistically significant among different age groups and showed an increasing trend with age (F=13.660, 33.581, P<0.001).MIP and peak inspiratory flow rate were positively correlated with children′s age, height and weight (P<0.001).The regression model, proved to be statistically significant(F=12.913、22.398, P<0.08), indicated that height was the best predictor of MIP and age was the best predictor of inspiratory peak flow rate. 【Conclusions】 This study is the first study on the predicted value of inspiratory muscle in preschool children in China.The predicted value formula can provide a reference for clinical inspiratory muscle evaluation.