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[Spirometric values in healthy Chilean children and adolescents]
Background:
Spirometric flow and volume measurement are essential to evaluate patients with pulmonary disease. In Chile, several reference equations are used.
Aim:
To measure flow and expiratory volumes in healthy children and adolescents and compare their results with theoretical values according to Knudson, Quanjer, Gutierrez and NANHES III.
Subjects And Methods:
Spirometries were performed according to international standards in 1589 healthy children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years (861 females) who lived in Santiago, Chile.
Results:
The obtained values for forced vital capacity, expiratory volume in one second, peak expiratory flow, were significantly higher than those calculated according to the above mentioned standards (p < 0.0001) with differences up to 18.7%. We constructed reference formulas for ages ranging from 6 to 18 years, separated by gender, using age, weight and height as independent variables. The latter had the greater influence on formula construction.
Conclusions:
The use of these new local formulas with allow the correct interpretation of spirometric results obtained in Chilean children and adolescents.
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