Spirometry reference values for an andean high-altitude population

We compared the spirometric values of people living at High Altitude at the Andean Plateau with those predicted for lowland population.

Spirometry reference values are not yet available for the millions of people living at high altitude in the Andean High Plateau.

To obtain spirometric prediction equations from a healthy subset of adults living in Argentina at 3440m above sea level.

We randomly recruited 172 healthy men and 235 healthy women, ages 20-70. Spirometry was done according to ATS/ERS standards. Reference equations were computed using regression analysis.

The resulting prediction equations: For men: FVC=0.0407*height (cm)-0.0250*age(years)-0.81;SEE 0.518. FEV1=0.0327*height (cm)-0.0282*age(years)-0.25;SEE 0.414. For women: FVC(liters)=0.0464*height(cm)-0.0222*age(years)-2.62;SEE 0.396. FEV1(liters)=0.0343*height(cm)-0.0218*age(years)-1.40;SEE 0.316.

These results establish spirometric-prediction equations for the population studied and further demonstrate: (1) a linear decline of FVC and FEV₁ with age for both genders, (2) age and height satisfactorily predict both parameters, (3) supra-normal values for this population were found when compared to those predicted by lowland Caucasian equations.