PEFR

Medical abbreviation · Respiratory

PEFR
Stands forPeak expiratory flow rate
CategoriesMedical

PEFR stands for Peak expiratory flow rate, a respiratory abbreviation.

Measurement of maximal exhalation speed, in liters per minute, that is the traditional British and older clinical name for peak flow. It is widely used in emergency departments to gauge the severity of an acute asthma attack.

Example: PEFR 180 L/min on arrival (40% predicted), 320 after nebulized salbutamol.

Usage notes

British Thoracic Society asthma guidelines grade attacks partly by PEFR as a percentage of best or predicted: moderate above 50 percent, acute severe 33 to 50 percent and life-threatening below 33 percent. Serial PEFR recordings at work and at home help diagnose occupational asthma. The terms PEF and PEFR are interchangeable in practice.

More respiratory abbreviations

  • P/F – PaO2/FiO2 ratio
  • PAH – Pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • PAP – Positive airway pressure
  • PE – Pulmonary embolism
  • PEEP – Positive end-expiratory pressure
  • PEF – Peak expiratory flow
  • PF – Pulmonary fibrosis
  • PFT – Pulmonary function test
  • PH – Pulmonary hypertension
  • PIP – Peak inspiratory pressure
  • PNA – Pneumonia
  • PND – Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

See all 109 respiratory abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.