title: Spirometry reference equations for central European populations from school age to old age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spirometry reference values are important for the interpretation of spirometry results. Reference values should be updated regularly, derived from a population as similar to the population for which they are to be used and span across all ages. Such spirometry reference equations are currently lacking for central European populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop spirometry reference equations for central European populations between 8 and 90 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data collected between January 1993 and December 2010 from a central European population. The data was modelled using "Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape" (GAMLSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The spirometry reference equations were derived from 118'891 individuals consisting of 60'624 (51%) females and 58'267 (49%) males. Altogether, there were 18'211 (15.3%) children under the age of 18 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We developed spirometry reference equations for a central European population between 8 and 90 years of age that can be implemented in a wide range of clinical settings.
authors: Children's Hospital, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. wehntaler@gmail.com
authors: Mascha K
authors: MK
authors: Rochat
authors: Ruediger P
authors: RP
authors: Laubender
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Kuster
authors: Otto
authors: O
authors: Braendli
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Moeller
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Mansmann
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: von Mutius
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Wildhaber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D013147:Spirometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult