A review of the racial differences in the lung function of normal Caucasian, Chinese and Indian subjects.

In the clinic, predicted normal values are widely used for routine assessments and, therefore, it is important that the noted differences in lung volumes between the races are recognized. Further epidemiological studies, using comparative methods and standard statistical techniques, are essential in order to quantify apparent differences between the races and to standardize normal values for race, especially with regard to age, with greater accuracy.