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Normal Spirometric Reference Values for Omani Adults

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Abstract

International guidelines recommend the use of population-specific reference values to eliminate the well-recognized influence of ethnic variation on lung function. This study was designed to derive spirometric prediction equations for healthy Omani adults. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of FVC (FEF25–75%) were measured in 419 “healthy” nonsmoking Omani adults (256 men, 163 women), aged 18–65 years. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed for each spirometric parameter against age, height, and weight for men and women separately, and prediction equations for all the above parameters were derived and compared with values derived using equations published from other populations. All measured spirometric parameters increased with height and decreased with age, and they were all significantly higher in men. In contrast, FEV1/FVC% values decreased with height and increased with age and were higher in women. The predicted normal values of FVC and FEV1 for our subjects using the derived equations were lower by 7–17% compared with respective Caucasian values, with smaller difference in the predicted values of PEFR, FEV1/FVC%, and FEF25–75%. This report presents previously unavailable spirometric reference equations for the Omani adults. Our findings highlight the need to use reference values based on updated data derived from relevant populations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Sultan Qaboos University Hospital Management and Professor M. O. Hassan, Head Department of Clinical Physiology, for the support and permission to use the Clinical Physiology Laboratory facilities to conduct the study and Oman Exhibition Center Management for granting our research team a dedicated booth for spirometric measurements free of charge. The authors also thank Mrs. R. Jothi, from the Department of Clinical Physiology for her assistance in spirometric measurements and data entry, and all the volunteers who participated in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Muscat, 123, Sultanate of Oman

    Omar A. Al-Rawas, Sawasn Baddar, B. Jayakrishnan & Bazdawi M. Al-Riyami

  2. Department of Family Medicine Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

    Abdullah A. Al-Maniri

  3. Department of Clinical Physiology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

    Jothi Balaji

Authors
  1. Omar A. Al-Rawas
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  2. Sawasn Baddar
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  3. Abdullah A. Al-Maniri
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  4. Jothi Balaji
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  5. B. Jayakrishnan
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  6. Bazdawi M. Al-Riyami
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Correspondence to Omar A. Al-Rawas.

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Al-Rawas, O.A., Baddar, S., Al-Maniri, A.A. et al. Normal Spirometric Reference Values for Omani Adults. Lung 187, 245–251 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-009-9148-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-009-9148-4

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