Lung volumes and flow rates in black and white subjects

Abstract

. Lung volumes and flow rates in black and white subjects. It has been known for some time that the vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second of black subjects are about 12% lower than those of whites of the same age and height. In the present study, total lung capacity and residual volume were also shown to be decreased by about the same percentage. Expiratory flow rates were similarly decreased, but when the difference in lung size was evened out by matching black and white subjects of the same total lung capacity, no significant differences in flow rates were observed.

Characterizing Functional Lung Heterogeneity in COPD Using Reference Equations for CT Scan-Measured Lobar Volumes

“…Similar to prior studies, 25,30 after height adjustment, NHWs had larger total lung and lobar volumes at full normal CT scan-measured lung lobe volumes at full infl ation and relaxed exhalation in NHW and AA without COPD. We then considered a cohort of subjects with COPD and compared measured anatomic CT scan-measured lobar volumes with equationderived nominal values, thereby allowing physiologic (hyperinfl ation and gas trapping) assessment.…”

“…In both races, the upper in normal subjects yielded results consistent with previously published data correlating these variables with pulmonary function and roentgenographic measures of whole lung volumes. 4,[24][25][26]30 We confi rmed a sex effect on lung volumes, with women having universally smaller lobar volumes than their male counterparts. We also confi rmed a signifi cant effect of height on all lobar volumes.…”

Interpretative strategies for lung function tests

“…Until better information is available, correction factors for Black and Asian children could be the same as those recommended for adults [7]. Reference values for RV, VC and TLC are, on average, 12% lower in Blacks than in Whites [35]; this difference may be smaller in elderly persons than in young adults [36]. Reference values for absolute lung volumes for adults of Asian ethnicity are generally considered to be lower than for Whites, but the magnitude of the differences is not well defined, and the difference may be less in Asians raised on ''Western'' diets during childhood [37].…”

“…Differences due to ethnicity are not well defined [33][34][35][36]. These differences may be explained, in part, by differences in trunk length relative to standing height, but there are also differences in fat-free mass, chest dimensions and strength of respiratory muscles.…”

Health hazard evaluation determination report no. HHE-79-90-686, Crouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse, New York.

“…A test was considered adequate for interpretation and use in the study only if there were three acceptable trials and the two best curves differed by no more than 5% with respect to FVC and FEV-1.8 Predicted nonnal values were calculated according to the Morris formula;9 the predicted normal for black individ~als was calculated by multiplying the Marris predicted value by 0.85. [10][11][12] All current foundry employees with at least 15 years seniority in the foundry were invited to participate in the study. (Since we could find no inforrnation indicating that any employee who had recently retired might have had an illness related to silicosis, and since 41 current eirployees had more than 20 years seniority, we judged that any under detection of silicosis due to not including retired employees would be small.)…”