The Global Lung Initiative 2012 reference values reflect contemporary Australasian spirometry

Abstract

We aimed to ascertain the fit of the European Respiratory Society Global Lung Initiative 2012 reference ranges to contemporary Australasian spirometric data. Z-scores for spirometry from Caucasian subjects aged 4-80 years were calculated. The mean (SD) Z-scores were 0.23 (1.00) for forced expirtory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), 0.23 (1.00) for forced vital capacity (FVC), -0.03 (0.87) for FEV(1)/FVC and 0.07 (0.95) for forced expiratory flows between 25% and 75% of FVC. These results support the use of the Global Lung Initiative 2012 reference ranges to interpret spirometry in Caucasian Australasians.