Estimated/Expected Peak Expiratory Flow (Peak Flow)
Quantifies asthma exacerbation severity.
This calculator includes inputs based on race, which may or may not provide better estimates, but cannot be run without inputting race due to how the formulae were developed by the CDC’s Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey See here for more on our approach to addressing race and bias on MDCalc.
Advice
Patients with much lower actual peak flow than estimated typically require further treatment of their asthma.
Critical Actions
Assessment of peak flow must not delay administration of critical treatments for acute asthma exacerbations.