Respiratory function in aboriginal school children.

Two hundred and three school-age Aboriginal children living on Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement have had lung function tested with a dry spirometer. As with other non-Caucasian children, the forced vital capacity (FVC) was about 25% below values for Caucasian children, but the ratio between forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC ratio), the mean mid-expiratory flow rate (MMEFR) and testing before and after a bronchodilator showed no evidence of widespread airways disease. Analysis of a subgroup of 126 children showed that birthweight, weight at one year of age, and current nutrition did not affect the level of the FVC.