Lung function parameters of healthy Sri Lankan Tamil young adults.

OBJECTIVES

To establish reference norms of lung function parameters for healthy Sri Lankan Tamil young adults.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross sectional study of Tamil students at the Faculty of Medicine, Jaffna.

MEASUREMENTS

Healthy non smoking students of Sri Lankan Tamil ethnic group were enrolled. Age, height, weight, BMI and spirometric measurements (Micro Quark) were recorded in 267 participants (137 females and 130 males).

RESULTS

Height was significantly correlated with (p<0.05) all the lung function parameters except FEV1%, PEFR and MEF75 in males. Prediction equations were derived by regression analysis based on the height as an independent variable. Predicted lung function values for a particular age and height were lower than values predicted for Pakistanis, Kelatanese Malaysians and eastern Indians. The values were comparable to south Indians in Madras. Our FVC values of males and VC of females were closer to Sri Lankan Sinhalese. FEV1 and FEF25-75 in males were slightly higher and FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75 in females were slightly lower in Tamils. When mean values were compared, these parameters were significantly higher in Tamil males (p<0.001) and significantly lower in Tamil females (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These values will be useful in interpreting lung function parameters of the particular age group as there are no published norms for Sri Lankan Tamils. However, our study sample was confined to medical students of 20-28 years which may explain the differences with Sinhalese.