Developing spirometry predictive values

This project was based at King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital Research Centre, Pune in India

Overview

  • Project title:  Development of spirometry predictive values for Indian population
  • Acute or chronic:  Chronic
  • Based at:  KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune
  • Start date:  August 2018
  • End date:  July 2019
  • Principal investigator:  Sanjay Juvekar
  • Project team:  Dhiraj Agarwal, Hilary Pinnock, Richard Parker, Parag Khatavkar, Sundeep Salvi, John Norrie

Background

Spirometry is the gold standard for accurate and repeatable measurement of lung function. It is central to detecting obstructive airway diseases, such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The interpretation of spirometry involves comparing results against predicted values, to determine the presence and severity of disease.

Developed by the Global Lung Function Initiative, predicted values are based on healthy individuals from multiple populations. However, the Global Lung Function Initiative have highlighted India as a “particular group” for whom further data are needed.

Responding to this lack of data, this research sought to develop predictive values for the Western Indian population.

Aim and impact

The project aimed to use spirometry data from 2,500 adults from Vadu Health and Demographic Surveillance System population to develop the predictive values for the Western Indian population.

Accurate predictive values will help clinicians achieve better diagnoses for people with respiratory symptoms, and improve the monitoring of lung function of COPD patients and their treatment.

In addition, accurate information about the burden of disease will help health policymakers to provide appropriate care for the increasing number of people with respiratory disease.

Key findings

The study found that the Western Indian adult population appears to have lower lung volumes compared to European-Americans or populations from Northern India. Therefore, using Global Lung Function Initiative predicted values could be misleading in this population, and lead to the overdiagnosis of lung disease.

Using spirometry predictive values developed specifically for the Western Indian population could prevent these issues, potentially transforming the diagnosis and management of lung conditions in the region.

Data from the study is being shared with the Global Lung Function Initiative, and KEMHRC are approaching other Indian sites for spirometry data to estimate these values for other Indian sub-groups.

This study has highlighted the importance of using locally appropriate normal spirometry values.

Publications

Normal spirometry predictive values for the Western Indian adult population.

Agarwal D, Parker R, Pinnock H, Roy S, Ghorpade D, Salvi S, Khatavkar P, Juvekar S, RESPIRE collaboration

European Respiratory Journal. 2020;1902129. 

Project data

Download the project Data Management Plan

View project metadata on the Health Data Research Innovation Gateway