Abstract
BackgroundThe validation of the multi-ethnic GLI-2012 spirometric norms has been debated in several countries. However, its applicability in Algeria has not been verified.AimTo ascertain how well the GLI-2012 norms fit contemporary adult Algerian spirometric data.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 300 healthy non-smoker adults (50% men, age range: 18–85 years) recruited from the Algiers region general population. All participants underwent a clinical examination and a plethysmography measurement. Z-scores for some spirometric data [FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC and forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of FVC (FEF25-75%)] were calculated. If the average Z-score deviated by “< ± 0.5” from the overall mean, the GLI-2012 norms would be considered as reflective of contemporary Algerian spirometry.ResultsThe means±SDs of age, height, weight, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% of the participants were, respectively, 48±17 years, 1.65±0.10 m, 73±14 kg, 4.04±1.04 L, 3.18±0.82 L, 0.79±0.05 and 4.09±1.09 L/s. Almost the quarter of participants were obese. The total sample means±SDs Z-scores were 0.22±0.87 for FVC, 0.04±0.88 for FEV1, -0.34±0.67 for FEV1/FVC and 0.93±0.79 for FEF25-75%. For men and women, only the means±SDs of the FEF25-75% Z-scores exceeded the threshold of “± 0.5”, respectively, 1.13±0.77 and 0.73±0.76.ConclusionResults of the present study, performed in an Algerian population of healthy non-smoking adults, supported the applicability of the GLI-2012 norms to interpret FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC but not the FEF25-75%.
Highlights
Lung function tests are useful tools for diagnosing and monitoring a variety of adults’ chronic respiratory diseases [1,2,3]
The total sample means±Standard deviation (SD) Z-scores were 0.22±0.87 for Forced vital capacity (FVC), 0.04±0.88 for 1st s forced expiratory volume (FEV1), -0.34±0.67 for FEV1/FVC and 0.93±0.79 for FEF25-75%
They were selected by convenience sampling from the acquaintances of patients hospitalized at the Department of Pulmonology, Phthisiology and Allergology, during the visit-period for example
Summary
Lung function tests are useful tools for diagnosing and monitoring a variety of adults’ chronic respiratory diseases [1,2,3]. Their outcomes are habitually reported as percentage predicted where predicted data are acquired from a healthy non-smoker norm population [4,5,6]. The age bias can be avoided by the use of sex, age, height and ethnicity specific Z-score [10]. The latter indicates how many standard-deviations (SDs) a measurement is from its predicted value, with only 5% of healthy subjects having a Z-score of 1.6445 or less (5th percentile) [10].
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