Normal pulmonary function in Botswana.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Human Physiology
• Anthropometry

Background:

• Establishing accurate reference values for lung function is crucial for diagnosing respiratory diseases.
• Previous studies have shown variations in lung function parameters across different ethnic groups.
• Limited data exists for lung function in adult Batswana populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine normal lung function values for adult Batswana.
• To provide regression coefficients for calculating predicted lung function in this population.
• To compare Batswana lung function with other ethnic groups.

Main Methods:

• Spirometry was performed on 125 healthy adult Batswana.
• Measurements included forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR).
• Regression analysis was used to derive coefficients for normal value calculations.

Main Results:

• Normal values for FVC, FEV1, and PEFR were established for adult Batswana.
• Regression coefficients suitable for calculating predicted lung function are presented.
• Lung function parameters in Batswana were found to be similar to those in other Negroid populations.
• Observed values were lower compared to Caucasian subjects.

Conclusions:

• The study provides essential reference data for pulmonary function testing in adult Batswana.
• These findings highlight ethnic variations in lung function, impacting clinical interpretation.
• The derived regression coefficients facilitate more accurate assessment of respiratory health in this population.