Forced expiratory volume, height, and demispan in Canadian men and women aged 55-86

In a random cross-sectional study in London, Canada, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FeV1.0), height, and demispan (fingerweb to central sternal notch) were measured on 182 men and 212 women of mean ages 70.4 (SD 8.5) and 71.3 (8.2). The mean FeV1.0 for men was 2.55 (0.66) l, and for women 1.80 (0.48) l and declined 29 ml.year-1 and 25 ml.year-1, respectively. The mean FeV1.0 standardized for measured height and calculated height for men was 2.54 (0.61) l and 2.55 (0.62) l in men, and 1.80 (0.46) l and 1.79 (0.45) l in women. There was no significant difference between the two methods of standardization, and the relationship of height to demispan in this independent elderly population was constant across age for both men (2.16) and women (2.17). Linear and proportional regression coefficients to predict FeV1.0 from height and demispan have been generated for this random sample aged 55 to 86 years.