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Lung Function at Age 18–25 Years: A Comparison of Different Reference Value Systems

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Respiratory Regulation - Clinical Advances

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 755))

Abstract

The anthropometrical data of the Caucasian population have significantly changed within the last five decades. The European Community for Coal and Steel (ECCS) assumes a plateau phase and recommends the entry of 25 years old for calculation of reference values in this age range. The question arises if the commonly used reference recommendations for lung function of the ECCS can still be accepted. In the present study standardized spirometric lung function tests were performed by pneumotachography, recording lung volumes and flows (MasterScreen Pneumo, CareFusion, Höchberg) in asymptomatic nonsmoking subjects (202 females, 201 males), aged between 18 and 26, according to the ATS/ERS criteria. The results were compared with the reference recommendations of ECCS, SAPALDIA, LuftiBus, and Bochum (only males). All absolute lung function values showed a correlation (p< 0.05) with height. With respect to FVC and FEV1, SAPALDIA and Bochum reference values were comparable and close to a 100 (range 97.6–101.4) %pred, whereas both ECCS and LuftiBus showed higher values (range 103.6–109.9%pred). The FEV1/FVC ratio was close to a 100 (range 97.6–101.7) %pred in all reference systems, whereas flows showed a wide variability between the reference systems (77.1–114.6%pred), single flows (e.g., 96.9–114.2%pred for MEF50) and males/females (males: 93.6–114.6%pred; females: 77.1–107.9%pred). We conclude that SAPALDIA reference values for FVC and FEV1 should be used, as they better represent lung function in the age group. ECCS and LuftiBus reference values are appreciably (4–10%) lower. Differences between reference systems were less important for the FEV1/FVC ratio and lung flows.

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Conflicts of Interest: No conflicts of interest were declared in relation to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Medicine and Sports Nutrition, Ruhr University Bochum, Overbergstraße 19, D-44780, Bochum, Germany

    E. Marek & J. Volke

  2. CareFusion Corporation, Höchberg, Germany

    H.-J. Smith

  3. Institute of Occupational Physiology, Augusta-Kranken-Anstalt, Bochum, Germany

    B. Serbetci & W. Marek

  4. Westfälisches Kinderzentrum, Dortmund, Germany

    H. Kalhoff

  5. Berufsgenossenschaftliche Klinik für Berufskrankheiten, Falkenstein, Germany

    N. Kotschy-Lang

  6. Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    R. Merget

Authors
  1. E. Marek
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  2. J. Volke
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  3. H.-J. Smith
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  4. B. Serbetci
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  5. H. Kalhoff
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  6. N. Kotschy-Lang
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  7. R. Merget
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  8. W. Marek
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Correspondence to E. Marek .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Center, Respiratory Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland

    Mieczyslaw Pokorski

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Marek, E. et al. (2013). Lung Function at Age 18–25 Years: A Comparison of Different Reference Value Systems. In: Pokorski, M. (eds) Respiratory Regulation - Clinical Advances. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 755. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4546-9_18

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