BACKGROUND: Accurate interpretation of lung function testing requires appropriate reference values. Unfortunately, few African countries have produced spirometric reference values for their populations. OBJECTIVES: The present study was carried out in order to establish normal lung function values for subjects living in Rwanda, East Africa. METHODS: The study was conducted in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, and in the rural district of Huye in southern Rwanda. The variables studied were forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow. Multiple regression analysis was performed using age, height, weight and BMI as independent variables to obtain predicted equations for both sexes. RESULTS: Predicted equations for normal lung functions were obtained from 740 healthy nonsmoking subjects; 394 were females and 346 were males. Minor differences in FEV1 and FVC were observed in comparison with other studies of Africans, African-Americans (difference in FEV1 and FVC of less than 5%), Chinese and Indians. When compared with selected studies from Caucasians and white Americans, our results for FEV1 and FVC were 9-12% and 16-18% lower in men and 12-23% and 17-28% lower in women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides reference values for pulmonary function in a healthy, nonsmoking Rwandan population and enables comparisons to be made with other prediction equations from other populations. Spirometric reference values in our study were similar to those obtained in a study of black Americans by Hankinson et al.
BACKGROUND: Accurate interpretation of lung function testing requires appropriate reference values. Unfortunately, few African countries have produced spirometric reference values for their populations. OBJECTIVES: The present study was carried out in order to establish normal lung function values for subjects living in Rwanda, East Africa. METHODS: The study was conducted in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, and in the rural district of Huye in southern Rwanda. The variables studied were forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow. Multiple regression analysis was performed using age, height, weight and BMI as independent variables to obtain predicted equations for both sexes. RESULTS: Predicted equations for normal lung functions were obtained from 740 healthy nonsmoking subjects; 394 were females and 346 were males. Minor differences in FEV1 and FVC were observed in comparison with other studies of Africans, African-Americans (difference in FEV1 and FVC of less than 5%), Chinese and Indians. When compared with selected studies from Caucasians and white Americans, our results for FEV1 and FVC were 9-12% and 16-18% lower in men and 12-23% and 17-28% lower in women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides reference values for pulmonary function in a healthy, nonsmoking Rwandan population and enables comparisons to be made with other prediction equations from other populations. Spirometric reference values in our study were similar to those obtained in a study of black Americans by Hankinson et al.
Authors: Crystal M North; Joseph G Allen; Samson Okello; Ruth Sentongo; Bernard Kakuhikire; Edward T Ryan; Alexander C Tsai; David C Christiani; Mark J Siedner Journal: Lung Date: 2017-12-19 Impact factor: 2.584
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Authors: Crystal M North; Bernard Kakuhikire; Dagmar Vořechovská; Simone Hausammann-Kigozi; Amy Q McDonough; Jordan Downey; David C Christiani; Alexander C Tsai; Mark J Siedner Journal: J Glob Health Date: 2019-06 Impact factor: 4.413
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Authors: Mulugeta Tamire; Adamu Addissie; Abera Kumie; Emma Husmark; Susann Skovbjerg; Rune Andersson; Mona Lärstad Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-12-19 Impact factor: 3.390