Influence of Age, Gender, and Ethnicity on Nasal Mucociliary Clearance Function

Nasal mucociliary clearance functions were measured in 46 healthy Chinese adult subjects (21 women and 25 men; age range, 27 to 75 years). A single droplet of Tc-99m MAA was placed on the floor of the nasal meatus about 1 cm behind the mucocutaneous junction, and its course was followed with a gamma camera. The nasal mucociliary clearance function was presented as the velocity (mm/minute) of nasal mucociliary transport of the Tc-99m MAA droplet. The results showed the velocity to be 4.42 +/- 2.12 mm/minute (4.61 +/- 2.37 mm/minute in the right nostril; 4.24 +/- 1.83 mm/minute in the left nostril). When the patients were grouped according to age or gender the velocity was 4.8 +/- 1.9 mm/minute (right nostril), 4.4 +/- 1.9 mm/minute (left nostril) in the older subjects (60 years and older), and 4.4 +/- 2.7 mm/minute (right nostril), 4.1 +/- 1.8 mm/minute (left nostril). In the younger subjects (59 years old and younger) (P > 0.05) the velocity was 5.0 +/- 2.7 mm/minute (right nostril), 4.3 +/- 1.8 mm/minute (left nostril) in men and 4.1 +/- 2.0 mm/minute (right nostril), 4.2 +/- 2.0 mm/minute (left nostril), in women (P > 0.05). The authors concluded that the influence of age or gender on healthy Chinese adults is not apparent. In addition, the velocity of flow in Chinese adults is slower than those in other previously reported ethnic studies.