Lung Function in Growth and Aging
Australian data PDF Print E-mail

Gore CJ, Crockett AJ, Pederson DG, Booth ML, Bauman A, Owen N. Spirometric standards for healthy adult lifetime nonsmokers in Australia. Eur Respir J 1995; 8: 773-782.

Study subjects

The subjects (n=2,298) were those of the 1990 Pilot Survey of the Fitness of Australians [10], which was the first Australian adult fitness survey to attempt to obtain a probability sample. Subjects were randomly selected from the adult population (aged 18–78 yrs) of metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia, using a three stage systematic randomized sampling procedure [10]. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects in accordance with the requirements of the University of Adelaide Committee on the Ethics of Human Experimentation.

Study design

Each subject in the total sample (n=2,298) completed a general health and physical activity questionnaire [10], in which they reported on their smoking habits, sex, age, height and mass. The last two variables are referred to as self-reported height and self-reported mass. Spirometry was then carried out on a subsample of subjects (n=1,302), consisting of those from the total sample who volunteered to undertake a comprehensive fitness assessment. Those subjects who did not volunteer for the fitness assessment were classified as having missing data for spirometry. Immediately prior to undergoing spirometry, each subject completed a 16 item bronchial symptoms questionnaire developed by the International Union Against Tuberculosis (IUAT) [11]. The 16 questions, plus an additional question designed to identify subjects with a current respiratory infection, are shown in the Appendix. (The abbreviations corresponding to all questions are also contained in the Appendix). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF25–75%) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were measured. The sex, age, standing height and body mass of each subject were also recorded, and the last two variables are referred to as measured height and measured mass.

Methods

Spirometry was conducted using a Cybermedic "Antler Pak" pneumotachograph (Louisville, Colorado, USA) interfaced to a lap-top computer (Toshiba, TS3200). The pneumotachograph, which meets ATS criteria [12], was calibrated with a Hans Rudolph 3.0 L syringe at three flow rates, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, before each day's testing and after every few hours of testing. The temperature of the test room was measured with a calibrated mercury-in-glass thermometer, and barometric pressure was obtained twice daily from the Adelaide office of the Bureau of Meteorology. Barometric pressure at the test location was within 5 mmHg of that from the Bureau of Meteorology which could cause an error of approximately 0.04% in body temperature and pressure, saturated with water vapour (BTPS) correction of the spirometry values.
Spirometry flow-volume loops were conducted in accordance with ATS recommendations [1]. Seated subjects wearing a noseclip completed three trials within 3% of each other. The values analysed were the largest FVC and FEV1, regardless of the technically satisfactory trial from which they were obtained. PEFR and FEF25–75% were recorded from the trial with the largest sum of FVC and FEV1. In addition to these measured parameters, the ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1/FVC, expressed as a percentage) was calculated from the largest FEV1 and FVC.
Standing height was measured using the method of ROSS and MARFELL-JONES [13] with a custom-built anthropometer validated against an Harpenden anthropometer. Body mass was measured barefoot and in light clothing on an A and D Mercury (Adelaide, South Australia) electronic load cell scale (130×0.05 kg).

References

1. American Thoracic Society. Standardization of spirometry: 1987 update. Am Rev Respir Dis 1987; 136: 1285–1298.
10. Gore CJ, Owen N, Bauman A, Booth M. Methods of the Australian Fitness Survey. Aust J Sci Med Sports 1993; 25(3): 80–83.
11. Burney P, Chin S. Developing a new questionnaire for measuring the prevalence and distribution of asthma. Chest 1987; 91: 79S–83S.
12. Nelson SB, Gardner RM, Crapo RO, Jensen RL. Performance evaluation of contemporary spirometers. Chest 1990; 97: 288–297.
13. Ross WD, Marfell-Jones MJ. Kinanthropometry. In: MacDougall JD, Wenger HA, Green HJ, eds. Physiological Testing of the High-Performance Athlete. Champaign, Illinois, Human Kinetics, 1991; pp. 223–308.
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