title: Spirometric values in Gypsy (Roma) children.
abstract: Values of spirometry indices vary among subjects of similar age, gender and somatometrics but of different ethnic origins. Low socioeconomic status in childhood is inversely related to lung growth. The aim of this investigation was to assess spirometry values in Gypsy children and compare them to reported values for Caucasians. Gypsy students attending primary schools in Central Greece were recruited. Spirometry indices were measured using a portable spirometer. Regression analysis was applied to construct prediction equations for forced vital capacity (FVC) and other spirometric indices (FEV(1), FEF(50), FEF(25), FEF(25-75)) based on standing height. Predicted spirometric values were compared to values for Caucasians from published studies. In 152 children (ages 5-14 years; 57 girls) lung function increased linearly with height: spirometry index=intercept+[slopexheight], (r(2)=0.68 for FVC and FEV(1) in girls; r(2)=0.78 for FVC and r(2)=0.74 for FEV(1) in boys). Excluding boys-but not girls-in puberty increased fit for FVC (r(2)=0.83) and FEV(1) (r(2)=0.79). Mean predicted values were 5-10% lower than values for Caucasians. In Gypsy children, FVC and expiratory flow function increase linearly with standing height and predicted values are lower than those for Caucasians of similar height.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Larissa University Hospital, University of Thessaly School of Medicine, P.O. Box 1425, Larissa 41110, Greece. KADITIA@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Athanasios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kaditis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gourgoulianis
authors.forename: Pelagia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsoutsou
authors.forename: Andriana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Papaioannou
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fotiadou
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Messini
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Samaras
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piperi
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gissaki
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zintzaras
authors.forename: Adam-Paschalis
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Molyvdas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D006178:Romani People; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity; D044465:White People