Lung function of healthy boys and girls in Jamaica in relation to ethnic composition, test exercise performance, and habitual physical activity

Abstract

. (1977). Thorax, 32,[486][487][488][489][490][491][492][493][494][495][496]. Lung function of healthy boys and girls in Jamaica in relation to ethnic composition, test exercise performance, and habitual physical activity. The relationships of forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity on height, age, sex, area of residence, and ethnic composition were assessed in 622 children in Jamaica. Rural children in hill-farming communities were judged to have a higher habitual physical activity than urban children. Allowing for differences in body size, forced vital capacity averaged 3% greater in rural children than in urban children, 7% less in girls than in boys, and 16% greater in children of European origin than in children of African descent.Lung volumes, indices of gas transfer, and submaximal-exercise responses were measured in a subgroup of 108 children of African descent believed to be of common genetic stock. Total lung capacity and vital capacity averaged respectively 6% greater and 70% greater in rural than in urban children of equal height but residual volume and transfer factor did not differ significantly between localities.Rural children had a lower average cardiac frequency during test exercise than did urban children. Sex differences and locality differences in vital capacity and total lung capacity disappeared when allowance was made for standardised exercise cardiac frequency. At standard body size and age transfer factor increased with decreasing cardiac frequency for standard work.The results suggest an harmonious development of the cardiac and respiratory components of the oxygen transport system, consonant with the demand for muscular work. Increased habitual physical activity and improved exercise performance appear to be associated with increases in vital capacity, total lung capacity, and transfer factor.

Reference values for lung function tests: I. Static volumes

“…Predictive studies for North American and European populations found lower values in minorities such as blacks or Hispanics, but their lower socioeconomic and nutritional status are probably important confounding factors (4,7,21). Studies with immigrants suggest that intermarriage can induce LV values which are intermediate between the parents (32,35). Our results are probably influenced by the multiracial profile of the urban Brazilian population, and therefore one would expect intermediate values, for example between Caucasians and blacks.…”

“…There is a considerable amount of data concerning the effects of race and ethnicity in LV and pulmonary function testing (32)(33)(34)(35), but little is known about the precise underlying physiological mechanisms. Predictive studies for North American and European populations found lower values in minorities such as blacks or Hispanics, but their lower socioeconomic and nutritional status are probably important confounding factors (4,7,21).…”

Study of Pulmonary Function Tests in Individuals Engaged in Traditional Indian Exercises in Akhada

“…It is a well known fact that pulmonary function parameters are influenced by race age, sex, height, weight and other unknown variables having a wide range of normal values [13,14,15,16]. The large metabolic demand of strenuous exercise requires an efficient oxygen transport system from the atmosphere to the active tissues.…”

Valores de referencia para parámetros de espirometría en la población adulta residente en Bogotá, D. C., Colombia

“…Los estudios realizados en diversas poblaciones han mostrado diferencias importantes en los parámetros de la espirometría, según las diferentes etnias (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Además, se ha encontrado que la ubicación geográfica, la nutrición y la exposición ambiental influyen sobre la función pulmonar (4,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21).…”