Age related reference ranges of respiratory rate and heart rate for children in South Africa

BACKGROUND: The authors have recently presented reference ranges for heart rate and respiratory rate in healthy resting schoolchildren, aged 4-16 years, in the United Kingdom. There are no similar ranges for children in the developing world. AIMS: To undertake a study in Cape Town, South Africa, to establish whether the UK ranges may be applied to socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. METHODS: Data on 346 children in a township school were recorded; their height, weight, heart rate, and respiratory rate were compared to the UK ranges. RESULTS: The two groups plotted closely together by height and weight on the UK 90 growth reference charts. There was no difference in heart rate between the two groups, and a difference of 0.46 breathes per minutes in respiratory rate, which is not felt to be of clinical significance. CONCLUSION: The reference rages of heart and respiratory rate derived in the UK may be applied to children in developing world situations.