[First comprehensive spirometric studies of new reference values for unrestricted use]

In contrast to almost all other clinical data, there are as yet no uniform, generally accepted values for spirometric measurements. This is due to technical and organizational problems related to examination procedures. The numerous authors only evaluated data from certain groups of subjects. There has not yet been a uniform study of all age, socioeconomic and occupational groups, urban and rural. Organizational cooperation with a preventive--medicine field study in Styria, together with school examinations, made possible the collection of data from all necessary groups including the basic spirometric values VC, FEV1 and FEV1 %VC. Although strictest epidemiological and methodological exclusion criteria were applied, a very sufficient number of subjects in all groups resulted. All examinations were performed with a half--open dry bellows spirometer. The general validity of the data so obtained is guaranteed as by a study made for this purpose of the cooling behavior of expired air in the spirometer. This data made possible for the first time a statistically acceptable, continuous transition between the model for children and youth on the one hand, and the model for adults on the other. With this large sample, precise statements could be made on the behavior of spirometric values for the growth - period, and the relations of sex, age, height and weight defined. The resulting regression equations can be used without restriction for all relevant problems. The Austrian Standardization Commission has thus already moved to accept these values.