Interpretative Consequences of Adopting the Global Lungs 2012 Reference Equations for Spirometry for Children and Adolescents

ObjectiveTo determine the interpretative consequences of adopting the Global Lungs 2012 (GLI-2012) spirometric prediction equations in a pediatric hospital population. MaterialSpirometric records from 2,192 white boys and 1,842 white girls, and 412 and 334 African-American boys and girls, respectively, aged 6.0-18.0 years, treated mainly for asthma, cystic fibrosis, cough, and dyspnoea. MethodsPredicted values and lower limits of normal were calculated for FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC, using prediction equations from GLI-2012, Hankinson, Knudson, Polgar, Wang, and Zapletal. Obstruction was defined as FEV1/FVCLLN and FVC