Abstract: Objective　To investigate the correlation of lung ventilation function with gender, age, height and weight in healthy children aged 5-14 years in rural and urban areas. Method　A total of 1076 rural children aged 5-14 years were screened. According to the normal height and weight range of Chinese children, 605 healthy children (309 males and 296 females) were selected. During the same period, children aged 5-14 years in urban areas were screened in the same way and 540 healthy children (267 males and 273 females) were selected. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) rate were measured by pulmonary function instrument. And the correlation of FEV1 and PEF with age, height and weight of children were analyzed by multiple linear regression. The normal lung function values of urban and rural children in the same sex and age groups were compared. Results The lung functions of 605 rural children and 540 urban children were all measured to be normal. FEV1 and PEF increased gradually over children's age, and their differences were significant among different age groups (P<0.01). In children aged 9~10 years and 14~15 years, FEV1 was larger in boys than that in girls, and among children aged 7~8 years, 13~14 years and 14~15 years, PEF was larger in boys than that in girls, and there were significant differences (P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis found that height had the most significant effect on FEV1 in all children (β=0.532, P<0.001). FEV1 and PEF in boys were positively correlated with their height and weight. FEV1 and PEF in girls were positively correlated with their age, height and weight, and height was the most significant factor. Normal values of lung function between rural and urban children in all age groups were compared. It was found that FEV1 of boys aged 6-7 and 8-9 years was larger in urban areas than that in rural areas, and FEV1 of girls aged 6-7 and 9-10 years was larger in urban areas than that in rural areas, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion FEV1 and PEF were correlated with children's height, weight and age. Height had the most significant effect, while age had the least effect. There was no difference in normal lung function of children between urban and rural areas in Suzhou.

Key words: forced expiratory volume in one second;　peak expiratory flow rate;　child