Variation of nasal respiratory pattern with age during growth and development.

The purpose of this study was to determine changes in nasal respiratory pattern with growth and development, particularly to determine the age where upper airway growth ceases. The results on 361 healthy subjects, aged 7 to 24 years, based on aerodynamic measurements during rest breathing, showed clear differences between inspiratory and expiratory phases. Nasal airflow rate and cross-sectional area increased and oral-nasal pressure and nasal resistance decreased with age up to the age of 16, levelling by the age of 20 years. The body size and gender had effect only on nasal airflow rate. This study suggests that the measurements of the nasal respiratory pattern, determining impaired nasal airway, should be done during inspiration and using age-related assesment from a healthy population until the age of 16 years. From then on, guidelines for adults are applicable.