Body plethysmography interpretation using ECSC versus GLI2019 reference equations

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) interpretation document doesn’t recommend specific reference equations for static lung volumes from body plethysmography. The Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) published new reference equations and their influence in clinical practice must be evaluated. <b>Aim:</b> Compare and interpret the static lung volumes data from body plethysmography using European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and GLI₂₀₁₉ reference values. <b>Methods:</b> Cross-sectional study, included a sample of caucasian subjects, aged 18 to 80 years, who performed lung function tests between January and December 2021, according to the ATS/ERS recommendations. Static lung volumes evaluated were functional residual capacity (FRC_pleth), total lung capacity (TLC), residual volume (RV) and RV/TLC. The interpretation was based on the lower (LLN) and upper (ULN) limits of normality. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical software IBM®, SPSS Statistics® version 26. It was considered a 5% significance level. <b>Results:</b> Out of 541 subjects, 58% were men; the mean age was 61 ± 12,24 years. Comparing the reference equations, we found&nbsp;significant differences in men and women in mean LLN and ULN values for the static lung volumes evaluated. For men the prevalence of restrictive ventilatory defects was higher when the ECSC reference equations were used while for women the prevalence of restrictive ventilatory defects was higher when the GLI₂₀₁₉ were applied. <b>Conclusions:</b> The present study showed differences in the interpretation of static lung volumes from body plethysmography when the ECSC and GLI₂₀₁₉ reference equations were compared.