STANDARDS OF FORCED SPIROMETRIC TESTS IN NORMAL SAUDI MALES AGED 12-16 YEARS

Objective: The accurate assessment of various lung functions is basic to the care of children, adolescents and adults exposed to occupationa l lung hazards, or having asthma. What is required is the availability of standards of normal lung function measurements for those being eva luated. Subjects and Methods: Measurements of commonly performed spiro metric lung function tests were evaluated in 404 healthy Saudi childre n and young adults aged 12-26 years. Results: Data for FVC, FEV(1.0), PEFR, V-max50% and V-max25% and other flow rate indices support the ne ed for ethnically specific standards of normal. Conclusions and Recomm endations: The present study provides normal values for PEFR/FVC and V -max50/FVC and other lung function flow rates. Prediction equations ar e provided for calculating the standard norm of spirometric tests for the first time in Saudi children and young adults.