Spirometric reference values in Estonian schoolchildren

This study was conducted to describe the relationship between anthropometric parameters and lung function in Estonian children, to determine the reference values for spirometry, and to compare these results with other data sets. The results are based on 1170 healthy non-smoking children (643 girls and 527 boys), aged 6-18 years. The spiroanalyser Pneumoscreen II (Jaeger) was used to register dynamic lung parameters. Natural logarithmic values of lung volumes, standing or sitting height and age were used in the final regression model. Prediction equations for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory flows when 50 and 75% of FVC has been exhaled, and mean forced expiratory flow over the middle 50% of the FVC for both sexes are presented. In comparison with recent data from European children the reference values were close for FVC, the differences were bigger for FEV1 and forced expiratory flows, especially in taller children.