Changes in the cross-sections of the nasal cavity assessed by acoustic rhinometry in the study population as a guideline for attempts to standardize nasal provocation tests

Introduction
A specific difficulty in the standardization of nasal allergen challenge tests as measured by acoustic rhinometry is the lack of reference values ​measured according to dependent changes, for example height and weight/height- or weight-dependent changes. Human growth and development rates and other changes the human body undergoes throughout the lifetime depend closely on the environment, sex, and race. Aim: To assess selected anthropometric (body weight and height) and rhinometric (nasal cross-sectional areas) measurements concerning subject age and sex.

Material and methods
The study was conducted in 633 subjects selected in multistage, 324. Body weight and height were measured with a sliding weight scale and height measure. Nasal cavity cross-sectional areas were measured via acoustic rhinometry.

Results
We observed parallel increases in the evaluated anthropometric measurements and nasal cavity cross-sectional areas both in males and females aged ≤ 14 years, with the two sexes starting to differ significantly in terms of those measurements over the age of 14 (p < 0.0001; p < 0.000001). The evaluated rhinometric measurements showed a greater correlation with height than with body weight. The time of the most diversified and dynamic changes in anthropomorphic measurements was the age of > 12 years: with boys demonstrating significantly higher mean values of height and body weight than girls.

Conclusions
Height showed a better correlation with rhinometric measurements (cross-sectional area of the nasal cavity) in younger subjects (at their age of development) than in older ones.