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Reference values for forced expiration parameters in Bulgarian children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years

Stoilka K Mandadzhieva1, Blagoi I Marinov, Stefan S Kostianev

  • 1Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. smandadzhieva@pathophysiology.info

Folia Medica
|February 28, 2013
PubMed

Insights

This study established new spirometric reference values for Bulgarian children, crucial for accurate lung function diagnosis. These regional values are more suitable for clinical practice than international standards.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Biostatistics

Background:

  • Accurate lung function diagnosis in children relies on appropriate reference values.
  • Existing population-specific differences in pediatric pulmonary function are well-documented.
  • Previous reference equations for Bulgarian children are 20 years old.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To derive current normal spirometric reference values for Bulgarian children and adolescents.
  • To compare these new values with existing datasets and previously developed Bulgarian equations.
  • To provide updated clinical tools for assessing pediatric lung function.

Main Methods:

  • Spirometry was performed on 671 healthy Bulgarian children (7-18 years).
  • Measurements included forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).
  • Multiple linear regression analysis correlated spirometric parameters with anthropometric data (age, height, weight, etc.).

Main Results:

  • Spirometric parameters showed nonlinear increases with age and height, with higher values in adolescent boys.
  • Height was the strongest predictor of lung function parameters.
  • Power function equations (Y = a.Hb) best described the relationship between lung function and height, with strong correlations for FVC and FEV1.

Conclusions:

  • The newly developed prediction equations are suitable for clinical use in Bulgaria.
  • Regional reference values are biologically more appropriate for interpreting spirometric data than European or USA-based equations.
  • Updated spirometric norms improve the accuracy of diagnosing lung function impairment in Bulgarian children.
Abstract

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