Background: No appropriate reference values of lung function parameters exist in healthy
Libyan children with which the same parameters of pediatric respiratory patients of this
country can be compared. Our aim; to asses lung function parameters in Libyan healthy
children to use inassessment of lung function abnormalities in children with respiratory
disease.
Methods:Spirometeric values were measured in a group of 449 healthy Libyan children and
adolescents (226 boys and 223 girls), aged between 4-19 years old. Multiple linear analysis
was performed for each spirometric parameter against age, weight, height and BMI.
Results: The values of the measured parameters increased nonlinearly and correlated
significantly with body height (P 0.05); the correlation was much lower with age. The bestfit regression equation relating the measured parameters values and body height was a simple
power function providing the possibility to calculate the mean value with lower and upper
limits for each parameter. No statistical significant differences of the studied functional
parameters were found between boys and girls.
Conclusions:our reference values are close to those of the European children. These
developed predictive values can be used in clinical practice in Libya and in other neighboring
North African countries.
Keywords: lung function tests, Expiratory flow-volume curves

 

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