Spirometry reference values for an andean high-altitude population

We compared the spirometric values of people living at High Altitude at the Andean Plateau with those predicted for lowland population. Rationale: Spirometry reference values are not yet available for the millions of people living at high altitude in the Andean High Plateau. Objective: To obtain spirometric prediction equations from a healthy subset of adults living in Argentina at 3440 m above sea level. Methods: We randomly recruited 172 healthy men and 235 healthy women, ages 20-70. Spirometry was done according to ATS/ERS standards. Reference equations were computed using regression analysis. Results: The resulting prediction equations: For men: FVC = 0.0407*height (cm)-0.0250*age(years)-0.81;SEE 0.518. FEV1 = 0.0327*height (cm)-0.0282*age(years)-0.25;SEE 0.414. For women: FVC(liters) = 0.0464*height(cm)-0.0222*age(years)-2.62;SEE 0.396. FEV1(liters) = 0.0343*height(cm)-0.0218*age(years)-1.40;SEE 0.316. Conclusions: These results establish spirometric-prediction equations for the population studied and further demonstrate: (1) a linear decline of FVC and FEV1 with age for both genders, (2) age and height satisfactorily predict both parameters, (3) supra-normal values for this population were found when compared to those predicted by lowland Caucasian equations.