UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Challenges in collating spirometry reference data for South-Asian children: an observational study

Lum, S; Bountziouka, V; Quanjer, P; Sonnappa, S; Wade, A; Beardsmore, C; Chhabra, S; ... Stocks, J; + view all (2016) Challenges in collating spirometry reference data for South-Asian children: an observational study. PLoS One , 11 (4) , Article e0154336. 10.1371/journal.pone.0154336. Green open access

[thumbnail of Lum_1485774_journal.pone.0154336.PDF]
Preview
Text
Lum_1485774_journal.pone.0154336.PDF - Published Version

Download (644kB) | Preview
[thumbnail of Lum_S1 File_PONE-D-15-55535R1_15Apr2016.pdf]
Preview
Text
Lum_S1 File_PONE-D-15-55535R1_15Apr2016.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Availability of sophisticated statistical modelling for developing robust reference equations has improved interpretation of lung function results. In 2012, the Global Lung function Initiative(GLI) published the first global all-age, multi-ethnic reference equations for spirometry but these lacked equations for those originating from the Indian subcontinent (South-Asians). The aims of this study were to assess the extent to which existing GLI-ethnic adjustments might fit South-Asian paediatric spirometry data, assess any similarities and discrepancies between South-Asian datasets and explore the feasibility of deriving a suitable South-Asian GLI-adjustment. Methods: Spirometry datasets from South-Asian children were collated from four centres in India and five within the UK. Records with transcription errors, missing values for height or spirometry, and implausible values were excluded(n=110). Results: Following exclusions, cross-sectional data were available from 8,124 children (56.3% male; 5-17 years). When compared with GLI-predicted values from White Europeans, forced expired volume in 1s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in South-Asian children were on average 15% lower, ranging from 4-19% between centres. By contrast, proportional reductions in FEV1 and FVC within all but two datasets meant that the FEV1/FVC ratio remained independent of ethnicity. The ‘GLI-Other’ equation fitted data from North India reasonably well while ‘GLI-Black’ equations provided a better approximation for South-Asian data than the ‘GLI-White’ equation. However, marked discrepancies in the mean lung function z-scores between centres especially when examined according to socio-economic conditions precluded derivation of a single South-Asian GLI-adjustment. Conclusion: Until improved and more robust prediction equations can be derived, we recommend the use of ‘GLI-Black’ equations for interpreting most South-Asian data, although ‘GLI-Other’ may be more appropriate for North Indian data. Prospective data collection using standardised protocols to explore potential sources of variation due to socio-economic circumstances, secular changes in growth/predictors of lung function and ethnicities within the South-Asian classification are urgently required.

Type: Article
Title: Challenges in collating spirometry reference data for South-Asian children: an observational study
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154336
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154336
Language: English
Additional information: © 2016 Lum et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. For further information, see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Keywords: Lung function, Children, Ethnicity, Reference range, South-Asian
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Dept
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Population, Policy and Practice Dept
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1485774
Downloads since deposit
122Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item