Arterial blood gas standards for healthy young nonsmoking subjects

Arterial blood gas analysis has become indispensable for precise physiologic assessment of many lung and heart conditions. Previous studies have related the level of arterial oxygenation to age, smoking habits, and the severity of lung or heart dysfunction. However, no study has reported complete normal blood gas values under all conditions most commonly used by cardiopulmonary laboratories to assess patients. Therefore, we assessed blood gas values in 20 nonsmoking volunteers (ten men, ten women) between 20 and 28 years of age who were healthy (negative heart-lung history and normal results on physical examination, chest radiography, and lung function testing). Blood samples were drawn from the radial artery and measured immediately on a blood gas analyzer. The findings were no significant different (P less than 0.05) in blood gas values among rest (supine), rest (sitting), and exercise (supine) conditions within sex groups; significantly lower mean PCO2 for women than for men under all conditions (except for subjects breathing 100% O2), and a higher pH for women in the rest (supine) position than under other conditions; and a lower mean PCO2 and higher pH for both groups breathing 100% O2. This study provides valid normal arterial blood gas reference standards for routine cardiopulmonary function testing.