Ventilatory response of healthy Nigerians and Europeans to carbon dioxide

Ventilatory response to carbon dioxide was measured by the rebreathing technique in 32 Nigerians and 20 Europeans resident in Lagos. Although the Europeans had larger physical characteristics and lung volumes than Nigerians, the responses to carbon dioxide were similar. The range of ventilatory response was 0,55 to 4,2 and 0,7 to 3,7 1/min/mm Hg for Nigerians and Europeans respectively. These results show that Nigerians are as sensitive to carbon dioxide as their European counterparts.