Spirometric reference values for children living in Constantine (Eastern region of Algeria)

Spirometry play an important role in diagnosing obstructive lung disease, assessing the severity of lung disease, monitoring treatment of patients with respiratory disorders, and allocating patients to treatment groups in drug intervention studies. Since spirometric lung function depends on body size, age, gender and ethnic group, reference equations derived from healthy individuals are imperative for interpreting results.

To assess the need for spirometric norms for children 5 to 16 years old and living in Constantine (Eastern region of Algeria).

Anthropometric and spirometric data were measured in 208 healthy children (101 girls) living in Constantine (649 m above sea level).

Published reference equations did not reliably predict measured spirometric data in Constantinian children. Combination of gender, age, height, weight, body mass index and body surface area explained between 69% and 94% of the spirometric data variability's. FEV1/FVC ratio [means±SD (5th percentiles) were0.91±0.06 (0.80) for boys and 0.90±0.06 (0.81) for girls] was not included in the regression because of its relative independence of anthropometric data. The mean±SD of the forced expiratory time was 2.44±0.74 s and only 27% of children reached the threshold of ³ 3 s. In an additional group of 24 children prospectively studied, the agreement between measured and predicted FEV1 was satisfactory.

Our reliable spirometric reference equations provide a useful norm for the care of paediatric patients living in the Eastern region of Algeria. The present study enriches the World Bank of reference equations, from which physicians should choose according to where patients live and their ethnic background.