Factors Affecting Normal Values for Ventilatory Lung Function

As part of an epidemiologic survey in New Guinea, forced vital capacity, one-second forced expiratory volume, subdivisions of lung volume, and peak expiratory flow were measured in a population living in the highlands and in a population living on the coast. The highland population had larger values than the coastal population for all measurements, but the difference was greater in females and children than in males. The ventilatory function of the New Guinea coastal population was similar to that of other non-European populations whereas that of the highland population was similar to that of populations of European descent. Ethnic variations in ventilatory lung function appear to be due to differences in the size of the lungs at full inspiration. Apart from ethnic variations, physical activity, environmental conditions, altitude of dwelling, and tobacco smoking can affect normal values for ventilatory lung function. If accurate prediction formulas for measurements of ventilatory lung function are needed, they should be derived for individual populations.