Spirometry reference values for an andean high-altitude population.

UNLABELLED

We compared the spirometric values of people living at High Altitude at the Andean Plateau with those predicted for lowland population.

RATIONALE

Spirometry reference values are not yet available for the millions of people living at high altitude in the Andean High Plateau.

OBJECTIVE

To obtain spirometric prediction equations from a healthy subset of adults living in Argentina at 3440m above sea level.

METHODS

We randomly recruited 172 healthy men and 235 healthy women, ages 20-70. Spirometry was done according to ATS/ERS standards. Reference equations were computed using regression analysis.

RESULTS

The resulting prediction equations: For men: FVC=0.0407height (cm)-0.0250age(years)-0.81;SEE 0.518. FEV1=0.0327height (cm)-0.0282age(years)-0.25;SEE 0.414. For women: FVC(liters)=0.0464height(cm)-0.0222age(years)-2.62;SEE 0.396. FEV1(liters)=0.0343height(cm)-0.0218age(years)-1.40;SEE 0.316.

CONCLUSIONS

These results establish spirometric-prediction equations for the population studied and further demonstrate: (1) a linear decline of FVC and FEV with age for both genders, (2) age and height satisfactorily predict both parameters, (3) supra-normal values for this population were found when compared to those predicted by lowland Caucasian equations.