Reference values of inspiratory spirometry for Finnish adults

Abstract

Inspiratory spirometry is used in evaluation of upper airway disorders e.g. fixed or variable obstruction. There are, however, very few published data on normal values for inspiratory spirometry. The main aim of this study was to produce reference values for inspiratory spirometry for healthy Finnish adults.

Inspiratory spirometry was preplanned to a sample of the Finnish spirometry reference values sample. Data was successfully retrieved from 368 healthy nonsmoking adults (132 males) between 19 and 83 years of age. Reference equations were produced for forced inspiratory vital capacity (FIVC), forced inspiratory volume in one second (FIV1), FIV1/FIVC, peak inspiratory flow (PIF) and the ratios of FIV1/forced expiratory volume in one second and PIF/peak expiratory flow. The present values were compared to PIF values from previously used Finnish study of Viljanen et al. (1982) reference values and Norwegian values for FIV1, FIVC and FIV1/FIVC presented by Gulsvik et al. (2001). The predicted values from the Gulsvik et al. (2001), provided a good fit for FIVC, but smaller values for FIV1 with mean 108.3 and 109.1% of predicted values for males and females, respectively. PIF values were 87.4 and 91.2% of Viljanen et al. (1982) predicted values in males and females, respectively. Differences in measurement methods and selection of results may contribute to the observed differences. Inspiratory spirometry is technically more demanding and needs repeatability criteria to improve validity. New reference values are suggested to clinical use in Finland when assessing inspiratory spirometry. Utility of inspiratory to expiratory values indices in assessment of airway collapse need further study.

Keywords:

• Spirometry
• reference values
• respiratory function tests
• lung
• inhalation

Acknowledgements

The HEVI Project centers in Helsinki and Kuopio are acknowledged for conducting the original reference values study producing spirometry measurements of the study subjects.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The HEVI Project has been funded from Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation. The FinEsS-Helsinki study has received funding from the Special Governmental Subsidy for Health Sciences Research (project codes TYH1235, TYH 2303, TYH 4251, and TYH 2013354). Dr Annette Kainu has received a research grant from the Finnish Anti-Tuberculosis Foundation, Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation and funding from the Special Governmental Subsidy for Health Sciences Research (HUCH Heart and Lung Center).