The Effect of Pulmonary Function Test Reference Equations on Classification of Restrictive Lung Disease Severity in...

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc), particularly among Black patients. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are critical to screen for and monitor SSc-ILD. We examined whether race-specific and race-neutral PFT reference equations impact classification of restrictive lung disease (RLD) severity in Black and White patients with SSc.

Baseline percent predicted forced vital capacity (ppFVC) was calculated for self-identified Black (n = 641) and White (n = 2,909) patients in the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center Research Registry using race-specific (Global Lung Function Initiative 2012 [GLI 2012] and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III) and race-neutral (GLI Global) equations. The percentage of Black and White individuals who switched RLD severity categories (normal [ppFVC ≥ 80%], mild [70% ≤ ppFVC < 80%], moderate [60% ≤ ppFVC < 70%], severe [50% ≤ ppFVC < 60%], or very severe [ppFVC < 50%]) with the use of race-neutral versus race-specific equations was calculated. The percentages of patients who would meet typical ppFVC thresholds for immunosuppression, clinical trial eligibility, and lung transplant referral were compared.

Black individuals had lower absolute FVC values than White individuals. Forty-seven percent (n = 303) of Black individuals were reclassified as having more severe RLD, and 17% (n = 487) of White individuals were reclassified as having less severe RLD when using the GLI Global versus GLI 2012 equations. Statistically greater proportions of Black individuals met ppFVC thresholds for immunosuppression, clinical trial eligibility, and lung transplant referral with race-neutral versus race-specific equations.

The use of race-specific PFT reference equations may result in systematic misclassification of ILD severity with potential impact on health care delivery and clinical trial eligibility.