Spirometry in healthy elderly Chinese.

Forced expiratory volume (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured in healthy subjects (129 men, 210 women) aged 60 years and above who were leading an independent and active life in the community. Women but not men showed an age related decline in FEV1 and FVC. Correlations of FEV1 and FVC with height were weaker than those reported for all age groups. Male ex-smokers had lower FEV1 values than current smokers and non-smokers. Regression equations are derived for men and women for predicting values appropriate to Chinese elderly people. These values are slightly lower than those for white people, but the difference is not as great as in values derived from surveys of all age groups.