Differences in Pulmonary Function Tests Among Whites, Blacks, and American Indians in a Textile Company

Abstract

Normal standards for pulmonary function in nonwhite populations are not presently available to occupational health workers. The present study examined differences in %FVC [percent forced vital capacity], FVC, FEV1[forced expiratory volume in 1 ]/FVC, FEF[forced expiratory flow] 200-1200 and FEF 25-75% among whites, blacks and American Indians. The sample consisted of 4209 job applicants to a textile company in southeastern USA. Multiple regression and analyses of covariance were employed to control differences in age, height, weight and smoking status. Blacks were significantly lower in 5 of the 6 comparisons but higher in FEV1/FVC,%. The pulmonary function measures of Indians fell generally between those of whites and blacks. Differences were observed between blacks and whites of both sexes regarding the effects of cigarette smoking. The need for race specific standards was confirmed and the question of using smokers in the acquisition of normative data was raised.