Respiratory rate (RR) is the number of breaths taken in a minute.
Patient information
What is respiratory rate?
It's the rate of respiration, so the speed at which we breathe in 1 minute.
Classification
Bradypnea, a low respiratory rate (<12 bpm)
Eupnea, a normal respiratory rate (12-20 bpm)
Tachypnea, an increased respiratory rate (>20 bpm)
Reference ranges
Age
RR
Birth-6 weeks
30-60bpm
<6mo
25-40bpm
<3yo
20-30bpm
<6yo
18-25bpm
<10yo
17-23bpm
Adults (10yo+)
12-20bpm
Elderly 65yo+
12-28bpm
Elderly 80yo+
10-30bpm
Patient information
The speed of breathing is normally 12-20 beats per minute?
At the extremes of age, it is higher. And particularly higher in kids <6mo. So it can be as high as 60bpm at birth, until you're over 10 years old, when you reach the adult rate. Also, when you're elderly, so over 65yo, and then it gets even faster as you age.
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