Reference values for respiratory pressures in a general adult population--results of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Respiratory muscle pressures have been gaining increasing interest because of prognostic value. The study aim was to acquire reference values for respiratory pressures in a large-scale population-based survey--the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP).

METHODS

One thousand eight hundred and nine participants (885 men) of a cross-sectional epidemiologic survey, called 'Study of Health in Pomerania--SHIP', underwent lung function and respiratory muscle pressure measurements. After excluding individuals with cardiopulmonary disorders, prediction equations for men and women were established by quantile regression analysis.

RESULTS

The final study population comprised 912 individuals (432 men), aged 25-80 years. The study provides a representative set of sex-specific prediction equations of respiratory muscle strength. Respiratory pressures are decreasing with age and are lower in women when compared to men.

CONCLUSIONS

Prediction equations for relevant respiratory pressures are given. Based on this well-described population-based survey with extensive cardiopulmonary investigations to exclude relevant interfering disorders a sufficient comprehensive set of reference values was obtained.