Indices of ventilatory lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEV %) which adjust for age and height.

The results of ventilatory function tests (FVC, FEV1, and FEV %) depend to a great extent on age and height. In epidemiological investigations, the main purpose of which is to analyse the influence of environmental factors on lung function in the population, it is therefore necessary to use multiple regression methods. This form of statistical analysis is difficult and laborious when there is no access to a computer. An alternative method is to use indices of ventilatory function that adjust for age and height. Khosla (1971) has recently developed a series of such indices. These indices show a high correlation with ventilatory tests and are independent of age and height. The main purpose of our work was to test the value of these new indices on material from our own epidemiological studies of chronic non-specific chest disease carried out in two small industrial enterprises in Krakow, taking into account the possible anthropological differences between the British and Polish populations.