Ventilatory capacity in Nigerian school children.

Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were determined in 1001 healthy Nigerian school children, aged between four and 16 years. The results were analysed with respect to the ages, heights, weights and body surface areas of the subjects. Among the variables used, weight showed the best correlation with FEV1.0 in both sexes and with FVC in males. Conversely, height showed the best correlation with FVC in females. However, the differences between these correlations were not significant. The median values obtained were lower than those reported in caucasian children at all height levels, but similar to the only available data in the literature for African children. Median FEV1.0 and FVC values were higher in males than in females at most ages, particularly the younger ones. Formulae for the medians and corresponding 2.5 and 97.5% points have been produced, using either height or weight as independent variable.