Pulmonary function studies in healthy non-smoking women of Calcutta.

Pulmonary function measurements were made in 230 healthy non-smoking women from Calcutta with an age range of 20-59 years. The tests consisted of vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of forced vital capacity (FEV1%), forced expiratory time (FET), maximum voluntary ventilation, uncontrolled frequency (MVVF), forced expiratory flow (FEF200-1200ml), forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75%), forced end-expiratory flow (FEF75-80%) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Except for PEFR, all the measurements were made with the help of two 9-litre closed-circuit-type expirographs using standard spirometric techniques. PEFR was recorded with the help of two Wright peak flow meters. Prediction formulae were derived on the basis of physical characteristics. Age and height were found to be the significant predictor variables for VC, FVC and FEV1, while only age was significant for FEV1%. The FVC and FEV1 values of the subjects, standardized for age and height, are much lower than those of Americans, Europeans and Jordanians. On comparison with data reported from other parts of India, it was revealed that the VC and FEV1 values of the current study, after adjustment for age and height, were much higher than those of Southern Indians but comparable with those of North-Western Indians.