Spirometry reference values for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) children and young adults

Abstract

Background: Appropriate spirometry reference equations for Indigenous Australians are unknown which may impact on accurate diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory illnesses for these patients.

Aims: To examine the appropriateness of the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI)-2012 reference equations for Indigenous Australian children and young adults.

Methods: We recruited 1092 children and young adults who identified as either (i) Aboriginal, (ii) Torres Strait Islander or (iii) both. Spirometry was performed according to American Thoracic Society guidelines. ‘Healthy’ participants were identified using questionnaires and medical chart reviews. GLI2012_DataConversion and STATA15 software were used to analyse data.

Results: 824 participants (3.2-25 years, 49% male) met inclusion criteria. Data were combined as there were no differences in the lung function or data distribution between the three ethnic groups (i-iii). Table 1 shows the mean Z-scores for FEV1 and FVC, and the proportion of our cohort that were <5th and >95th centiles when applying the GLI-2012 ‘Caucasian’ or ‘Other/Mixed’ reference equations.

Conclusion: GLI-2012 ‘Other/Mixed’ reference equations are more appropriate to use than ‘Caucasian’ when testing Indigenous Australian children and young adults (≤25 years).