The multi‐ethnic global lung initiative 2012 (GLI-2012) norms reflect contemporary adult's Algerian spirometry

BACKGROUND: The validation of the multi-ethnic GLI-2012 spirometric norms has been debated in several countries. However, its applicability in Algeria has not been verified. AIM: To ascertain how well the GLI-2012 norms fit contemporary adult Algerian spirometric data. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 300 healthy non-smoker adults (50% men, age range: 18–85 years) recruited from the Algiers region general population. All participants underwent a clinical examination and a plethysmography measurement. Z-scores for some spirometric data [FEV(1), FVC, FEV(1)/FVC and forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of FVC (FEF(25-75%))] were calculated. If the average Z-score deviated by “< ± 0.5” from the overall mean, the GLI-2012 norms would be considered as reflective of contemporary Algerian spirometry. RESULTS: The means±SDs of age, height, weight, FVC, FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC and FEF(25-75%) of the participants were, respectively, 48±17 years, 1.65±0.10 m, 73±14 kg, 4.04±1.04 L, 3.18±0.82 L, 0.79±0.05 and 4.09±1.09 L/s. Almost the quarter of participants were obese. The total sample means±SDs Z-scores were 0.22±0.87 for FVC, 0.04±0.88 for FEV(1), -0.34±0.67 for FEV(1)/FVC and 0.93±0.79 for FEF(25-75%). For men and women, only the means±SDs of the FEF(25-75%) Z-scores exceeded the threshold of “± 0.5”, respectively, 1.13±0.77 and 0.73±0.76. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study, performed in an Algerian population of healthy non-smoking adults, supported the applicability of the GLI-2012 norms to interpret FEV(1), FVC and FEV(1)/FVC but not the FEF(25-75%).