Normal lung function in Angolan children

Background: There are no data about normal lung function of Angolan children Aims: Evaluate whether the Global Lung Initiative (GLI) prediction equations for black people (Quanjer et al. Eur Respir J 2012;40:1324–1343) fit Angolan children. Method: FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC of 307 healthy children (50.2% boys) aged 6-12 years from public and private schools in Luanda, Angola, were evaluated. Exclusion criteria: acute or chronic disease, spirometry not repeatable or abnormally shaped flow-volume curves. A portable spirometer (Pony FX©, Cosmed, IT) was used. Height and weight were recorded. Z-scores for spirometric data were derived from GLI equations, BMI z-scores from CDC growth charts. Height was compared to that in African Americans from NHANES III. Results: Mean age was 9.8 years (SD 1.9). Z-scores (table) fell within the 90% reference interval for black people (figure); 9.4% of children were underweight (zBMI <-2). Afro American girls from were 3.4%, boys 4.3% taller. Z-scores for FEV1 and FVC, but not FEV1/FVC, were lowest in girls, and correlated positively with zBMI and school type. | | Boys (154) mean (SD) | Girls (153) mean (SD) | || | zFEV1 | −0.18 (0.74) | −0.47 (0.73) | | zFVC | −0.28 (0.77) | −0.48 (0.82) | | zFEV1/FVC | 0.18 (0.71) | 0.01 (0.84) | | zBMI | −0.73 (0.99) | −0.47 (1.31) | Mean spirometry z-scores in Angolan children ![Figure][1] CONCLUSIONS: FEV1 and FVC are proportionally reduced by poor nutritional status. GLI equations appear to fit Angolan children, but should preferably be evaluated in a larger sample of Angolan girls. [1]: pending:yes