Ventilatory function in Malay female workers in Singapore.

Results of the ventilatory function measurements, consisting of Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), in a study of 195 Malay female telephonists in Singapore are reported here. The analysis of the data confirmed that FEV1 and FVC are related to age and height but not weight. The predicted normal values of the Malay female could be obtained from the derived regression equations for FEV1 and FVC. Significant differences in the FEV1 and FVC were observed in the Chinese, Indian, African, British, White and Black American women when compared with the study's Malay female population. These findings are in agreement with many of the previous studies which reported differences in ventilatory function in various racial groups.