Comparison Of Lung Function In Congolese Vs African American Children

Background: Lung function in African children has been poorly investigated. Aims: To evaluate whether the Global Lung Initiative (GLI) Black spirometry reference (Quanjer,ERJ2012) fit Congolese children. Methods: Anthropometric and spirometric data were collected in 6-12 year old pupils from public and private schools in Kinshasa, D.R. Congo. Exclusion criteria: acute or chronic respiratory disease, non-repeatable test or abnormally shaped flow-volume curves. A portable spirometer (Pony FX©,Cosmed,IT) was used. Z-scores of anthropometric and spirometric data were derived from CDC2000 and GLI-Black equations, respectively. Results were compared to African American children from NHANES III. Results: Congolese children were smaller; FEV 1 and FVC, but not FEV 1 /FVC, were slightly smaller and had much less variability than in African Americans. School type, a proxy for affluence, was unrelated to respiratory outcomes. Conclusions: GLI equations for African Americans fit Congolese children despite a massive difference in socioeconomic conditions.