Spirometry values in adults in northern Finland

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Accurate spirometry reference values are crucial for correct lung function interpretation.
• Population-specific reference values are necessary due to variations in lung function.
• Current Finnish spirometry reference values are national but may not reflect local population data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between measured spirometry values in healthy Finnish adults and existing national reference values.
• To assess the accuracy of current Finnish spirometry reference values across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• A population-based study involving 206 men and 215 women aged 21-70 years in northern Finland.
• Spirometry was performed on healthy adults, excluding those with chronic pulmonary conditions.
• Regression equations for spirometric reference values were calculated and compared with European recommendations and current Finnish values.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed between measured spirometry values and both European and Finnish reference values.
• Linear models used in some reference equations failed to account for age-related physiological changes.
• Divergence was most pronounced in adults under 30 and in elderly men.

Conclusions:

• Existing spirometry reference equations, including those used in Finland, show considerable divergence from measured lung function in healthy adults.
• These discrepancies highlight challenges in international comparisons and risk incorrect clinical interpretations.
• The findings underscore the need for updated, population-specific spirometry reference values.