Reference equations for lung function screening of healthy never smoking adults aged 18–80 years

¹ Lung Association Zurich, Switzerland
² Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Basel, Switzerland
³ Division of Respiratory Medicine, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
⁴ Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
⁵ Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: projekte{at}lungenliga-zh.ch.

	Abstract

The need for updated spirometric reference values to be used on European populations is widely acknowledged especially for subjects aged >70 years. Their reference values are generally based on extrapolations. The aim of this study was to calculate reference values for lung function screening of healthy, never smoking adults aged 18-80 years and to compare them to the most widely used reference equations.

Results of screening spirometry of 8684 healthy, never smoking adults were used to calculate mean values and fifth percentiles of lung function variables.

ECCS reference equations underestimate forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC). In 50 year-old men (175 cm), for example, lower limits of normal for FEV₁ are underestimated by 198 ml, for FVC by 210 ml. In 50 year-old women (165 cm), lower limits of normal for FEV₁ are underestimated by 191 ml, for FVC by 270 ml. The decline of FVC in elderly subjects is steeper than predicted by the ECCS.

Reference equations derived from spirometry data locally collected in a practical setting by well trained personnel might be more appropriate for everyday use than generally used equations based on data from scientific studies in the distant past.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Heusser, G. Dzamonja, J. Tank, I. Palada, Z. Valic, D. Bakovic, A. Obad, V. Ivancev, T. Breskovic, A. Diedrich, et al. Cardiovascular Regulation During Apnea in Elite Divers Hypertension, April 1, 2009; 53(4): 719 - 724. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]