SPIROMETRY OF HEALTHY ADULT SOUTH-AFRICAN MEN .1. NORMATIVE VALUES

Aim. To determine normative spirometric values for black and white Sou th African men. Methods. A population of 796 bank personnel were subje cted to spirometry and anthropometric measurements, An exhaustive ques tionnaire and radiographic screening process was used to identify a he althy population, Spirometry was performed using two calibrated instru ments, a sleeve sealed piston spirometer (Autolink) and a bellows spir ometer (Vitalograph). The methodological guidelines of the American Th oracic Society were observed. In the regression analysis Mallow's CP s tatistic was used to identify the best prediction models. Results. Com pelling evidence was found in support of incorporating sitting height in prediction equations. For the Autolink studies the prediction equat ions (based on age, standing height and weight) for forced vital capac ity (FVC) (litres) were as follows: blacks; 0.053 height - 0.030 age - 3.54; and whites: 0.056 height - 0.038 age - 3.07; for forced expirat ory volume in the 1st second (FEV(1)) (litres) blacks: 0.036 height - 0.032 age - 1.18; and whites: 0.042 height - 0.038 age - 1.45. For the Vitalograph the equations were: FVC: blacks 0.048 height - 0.024 age - 3.08 L; whites 0.056 height - 0.031 age - 3.42; FEV(1): blacks 0.029 height - 0.027 age - 0.535; whites 0.042 height - 0.036 age - 1.84. C onclusion. The Vitalograph yielded significantly lower values than the Autolink for FVC measurements despite absolute consistency in methods , in view of the fact that the present study was conducted on healthy men, free from noxious industrial exposure, using state-of-the-art met hods, these prediction equations may be regarded as the definitive nor ms for adult South African males.