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Spirometric values in healthy preschool children
Ana Moya Olivares1, Luis Villarroel Del Pino2, Laura Fierro Tolosa3
1Departamento Cardiología y Enfermedades Respiratorias Pediátricas, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile.
Insights
Spirometry measurements in healthy Chilean preschoolers were higher than current international standards. New reference equations were developed for accurate lung function assessment in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Physiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Spirometry is crucial for assessing lung function in children.
- Existing reference standards for preschooler spirometry are primarily foreign.
- Establishing local reference values is essential for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure spirometric variables in healthy Chilean preschool children.
- To compare these measurements with established Global Lung Initiative (GLI), Eigen, and França predictive values.
- To develop new reference equations if significant differences are found.
Main Methods:
- Spirometry was conducted on 202 healthy Chilean preschoolers (ages ~5 years) following ATS/ERS 2007 guidelines.
- Exclusion criteria included prematurity, asthma history, and chronic respiratory/non-respiratory conditions.
- Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volumes (FEV0.5, FEV0.75, FEV1) were recorded.
Main Results:
- Spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV0.75) were generally higher in Chilean preschoolers compared to GLI, Eigen, and França predictions.
- Boys exhibited significantly higher FVC than girls.
- New predictive equations were developed due to observed differences.
Conclusions:
- Chilean preschoolers demonstrate higher spirometric values than current international reference standards.
- The developed reference standards are proposed for use in clinical practice in Chile.
- Accurate lung function assessment in children requires population-specific reference values.
Introduction:
Spirometry is the most commonly used test to evaluate lung function. Foreign refe rence standards are currently available for preschool children.
Objectives:
1. To measure spirometric variables in healthy Chilean preschool children, 2. To compare these results with predictive ones according to GLI (Global Lung Initiative), Eigen (USA) and França (Brazil), and 3. If there is a sig nificant difference with these, to develop reference equations.
Subjects And Method:
Questionnaires were distributed to parents in several schools and kindergartens in Santiago. Children with a history of prematurity, asthmatic symptoms, chronic lung disease (including asthma), and chronic non respiratory disease were excluded. Spirometry was performed according to ATS/ERS 2007 guideli nes, with MedGraphics equipment, USA. Family and environmental background, weight and height were recorded, as well as values obtained in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 0.5, 0.75 and 1 second (FEV0.5, FEV0.75, and FEV1, respectively).
Results:
276 spirometries were performed, 202 met acceptability criteria, 112 girls, average age 5.01 ± 0.57 years, height 108.7 ± 5.6 cm. When comparing by gender, there was only a significant difference in FVC, which was higher in boys. The average values obtained in the total group were: FVC 1.22 ± 0.22 liters, FEV1 1.16 ± 0.18 liters, FEV0.75 1.07 ± 0.17 liters. These parameters were higher in percentage than the predictive ones according to GLI, Eigen, and França, except FVC with Eigen, therefore, predictive equations were de veloped.
Conclusions:
Spirometric values of preschoolers living in Santiago were higher than foreign reference values. We proposed these reference standards to be used in our country.
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