Reference values for spirometry in Chinese aged 4-80 years

Although there are over 1.34 billion Chinese in the world, nationwide spirometric reference values for Chinese are unavailable, which is usually based on Caucasian conversion. The aim of this study was to establish spirometric reference values for Chinese with a national wide sample.

We enrolled healthy non-smokers in 24 centers in Northeast, North, Northwest, Southwest, South, East and Central China from January 2007 to June 2010. Spirometry was performed according to American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines. Reference equations were established using the Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) method for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV₁/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and maximal midexpiratory flow (MMEF). Popular Caucasian reference values adjusted with ethnic conversion factors were validated with Chinese measured spirometry data. The present study also compared with other published Chinese equations for spirometry.

A total of 7,115 eligible individuals aged 4 to 80 years (50.9% females) were recruited. Reference equations against age and height by gender were established, including predicted values and lower limits of normal (LLNs). Validated with Chinese data, the mean percentage differences of Caucasian reference values adjusted with ethnic conversion factors were -10.2% to 1.8%, and the percentages of total subjects under LLNs were 0.1% to 8.9%. Compared with this study, the percentage differences of previous Chinese studies ranged from -17.8% to 11.4%, which were found to significantly overestimate or underestimate lung function.

This study established new reference values for better interpretation of spirometry in Chinese aged 4 to 80 years, while Caucasian references with adjustment were inappropriate for Chinese.