Abstract des Autors

The validity of commonly recommended pulmonary function predicton equations (Bulletin Europeen des Physiopathologie Respiratoire, Clinical Respiratory Physiology) was tested with two samples (nl = 156; n2 = 218) of well-trained athletes. Pulmonary function measures (FVC, TLC, RV, FEF25-75, FEV1.0, PEF, RV/TLC ratio, FEV1.0/FVC ratio) were typically very reliable but inaccurately predicted with recommmended equations based upon anthropometric characteristics. Newly developed unisex regression equations were developed with dummy coding of gender (i.e., O = female;1 = male), age, height, weight, and various interactions. The new equations were validated with a subsample of group one, cross-validated with the remainning portion of group one, and then cross-validated again with the 218 subjects from sample two. The newly created pulmonary function prediction equations are more valid for well-trained athletes than the equations in use for the general population. Verf.-Referat