Do the global lung function initiative reference equations reflect a sample of adult Middle Eastern population?

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Clinical Physiology

Background:

• The Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) 2012 provided updated spirometry reference values across multiple ethnicities.
• Accurate spirometry reference values are crucial for diagnosing and managing respiratory diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the applicability of the GLI 2012 reference values for the adult Jordanian population.
• To determine if existing regional equations adequately represent Jordanian lung function.

Main Methods:

• Conducted spirometry tests on 1875 healthy, non-smoking adults (1029 females, 846 males) in Jordan.
• Calculated z-scores and predicted normal values using GLI 2012 equations and other Middle Eastern equations.

Main Results:

• The GLI 2012 equations did not provide an acceptable fit for the Jordanian adult population's spirometry data.
• Other regional equations examined also failed to adequately represent the study data.

Conclusions:

• There is an urgent need to develop specific spirometry reference equations for the Jordanian population.
• Accurate, localized equations are essential for reliable respiratory condition assessment in Jordan.