Prediction equations for plethysmographic lung volumes

Due to the lack of information on reference values for plethysmographic lung volumes, standardized measurements were carried out on a selected sample of 482 healthy non-smoking volunteers (300 men and 182 women), aged 20-70 years, living in the Barcelona area (Spain). Prediction equations using age, height and body surface area (BSA) as covariates were calculated for the subdivisions of lung volumes [TLC, IC, EVC, FRC, RV and RV/TLC (%)], separately for both sexes. Simple linear equations predicted lung volumes as well as more complex equational models. BSA correction was useful for FRC but not for the other parameters. Our predicted FRC was up to 10% higher (mean 256 ml) than the FRC estimated by other studies using gas dilution techniques, but showed an acceptable agreement with the plethysmographic measurements carried out in an independent sample of 94 healthy non-smokers (42 men and 52 women) from Barcelona using different equipment. The present study provides an internally consistent set of prediction equations for static lung volumes. Differences in predicted FRC between the present study and other reference values obtained using gas dilution measurements should be attributed to the method of measurement.