title: [Spirometry: a comparison of prediction equations proposed by Lubinński for the Polish population with those proposed by the ECSC/ERS and by Falaschetti et al].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ethnic-specific equations are commonly acknowledged, however, either generally-European ECSC/ERS prediction equations or equations worked out by Falaschetti et al. for the English population are recommended to be used in Poland. The aim of the study is to compare those equations with equations elaborated by Lubinski and Golczewski for the Polish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  ECSC/ERS equations and Falaschetti's ones as well as Polish equations (elaborated on the basis of data for healthy, non-smoking Poles aged 18-85--1120 males, 1625 females--who performed spirometry manoeuvre according to ATS/ERS criteria) were analysed from the point of methodological correctness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Main ECSC/ERS imperfections: a) the onset age of lung function variable (LF) decline with age is assumed a priori as the same for all LF and equal to 25 yrs; b) simple linear equations describing LF dependences on age higher than 25 yrs can reflect nonlinearity of these dependences inaccurately; c) lower limits of normal are determined as equations for means minus 1.645*SD (SD- standard deviation of differences between observed and predicted values of LF); d) the equations are old, i.e. they have been prepared for previous generations and old procedures of examinations. Main Falaschetti imperfections: a) unnecessarily complex nonlinearity of equations, b) wrong age distributions of general population samples (too low numbers of older subjects). Lubinski's equations have not those imperfections. In particular, age distribution is uniform, and separately for each individual LF: a) the onset age is determined mathematically together with the other equation coefficients; b) statistical significance of nonlinearity of dependence on age is examined. Moreover, Lubinski's predictions for advanced age are equal to results obtained by authors examining in detail the elderly group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All the above suggest that Lubinski's equations should be used in Poland instead of ECSC/ERS or Falaschetti equations.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Matematycznego Modelowania Procesów Fizjologicznych, Instytut Biocybernetyki i Inżynierii Biomedycznej im. Macieja Nałęcza Państwowej Akademii Nauk, Warszawa. tgol@ibib.waw.pl
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gólczewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult