Lung function in children in relation to ethnicity, physique and socioeconomic factors.
Can ethnic differences in spirometry be attributed to differences in physique and socioeconomic factors?Assessments were undertaken in 2171 London primary schoolchildren on two occasions 1 year apart, whenever possible, as part of the Size and Lung function In Children (SLIC) study. Measurements included spirometry, detailed anthropometry, three-dimensional photonic scanning for regional body shape, body composition, information on ethnic ancestry, birth and respiratory history, socioeconomic circumstances, and tobacco smoke exposure.Technically acceptable spirometry was obtained from 1901 children (mean (range) age 8.3 (5.2-11.8) years, 46% boys, 35% White, 29% Black-African origin, 24% South-Asian, 12% Other/mixed) on 2767 test occasions. After adjusting for sex, age and height, forced expiratory volume in 1 s was 1.32, 0.89 and 0.51 z-score units lower in Black-African origin, South-Asian and Other/mixed ethnicity children, respectively, when compared with White children, with similar decrements for forced vital capacity (p<0.001 for all). Although further adjustment for sitting height and chest width reduced differences attributable to ethnicity by up to 16%, significant differences persisted after adjusting for all potential determinants, including socioeconomic circumstances.Ethnic differences in spirometric lung function persist despite adjusting for a wide range of potential determinants, including body physique and socioeconomic circumstances, emphasising the need to use ethnic-specific equations when interpreting results.
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK s.lum@ucl.ac.uk.
Sooky
S
Lum
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Vassiliki
V
Bountziouka
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK UCL Institute of Global Health, London, UK.
Samatha
S
Sonnappa
Population, Policy and Practice Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Angie
A
Wade
Population, Policy and Practice Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Tim J
TJ
Cole
MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Seeromanie
S
Harding
Population, Policy and Practice Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Jonathan C K
JC
Wells
Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Blizard Institute - Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Chris
C
Griffiths
Dept of Computer Science, UCL, London, UK.
Philip
P
Treleaven
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Rachel
R
Bonner
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Jane
J
Kirkby
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Simon
S
Lee
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Emma
E
Raywood
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Sarah
S
Legg
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Dave
D
Sears
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Philippa
P
Cottam
ABS Laboratories, Welwyn Garden City, UK.
Colin
C
Feyeraband
Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section in IIIP Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Janet
J
Stocks
D044466:Asian People; D044383:Black People; D001827:Body Height; D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013147:Spirometry; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014797:Vital Capacity; D044465:White People
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution