What factors explain racial differences in lung volumes?

In order to examine the physical characteristics that may determine racial differences in lung volumes, we studied healthy, nonsmoking Caucasian, Chinese and Indian males of similar ages (range 18-51 yrs). We measured spirometric function, flow volume curves, lung volumes, inspiratory and expiratory muscle pressures, alveolar distensibility and diffusing capacity, together with height, weight and fat free mass. Chest shape was measured using radiographs. The mean total lung capacity and vital capacity in the Caucasian group, expressed as percentage predicted, were 5 and 10% higher than in the Chinese group and 17 and 20% higher than in the Indian group. Chinese values for these measurements were 12 and 10% greater than Indian. We found that Caucasians had higher fat free masses, higher inspiratory and expiratory muscle pressures and wider chests than the other races. The Caucasians and Chinese had longer chests than the Indians. There was no difference in alveolar distensibility or in the diffusion coefficient between the groups. These findings suggest that Caucasians have larger lung volumes than Chinese and Indians because they have increased numbers of alveoli and physically larger chest cavities, and not because of greater alveolar distensibility. Chest dimensions, together with height and race explained 90% of the variation in forced vital capacity and 86% of the variation in total lung capacity. Height multiplied by fat free mass, a "physique factor", previously suggested as the best predictive factor for forced vital capacity in Caucasians, did not account for much of the variation in forced vital capacity between Caucasians and Indians, presumably because it takes no account of differences in chest dimensions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A L Whittaker, A J Sutton, and C S Beardsmore Are ethnic differences in lung function explained by chest size? Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., September 1, 2005; 90(5): F423 - F428. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-F. Bellemare, M.-P. Cordeau, P. Leblanc, and F. Bellemare Thoracic Dimensions at Maximum Lung Inflation in Normal Subjects and in Patients With Obstructive and Restrictive Lung Diseases Chest, February 1, 2001; 119(2): 376 - 386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. M. IP, E. M. KARLBERG, J. P. E. KARLBERG, K. D. K. LUK, and J. C. Y. LEONG Lung Function Reference Values in Chinese Children and Adolescents in Hong Kong . I. Spirometric Values and Comparison with Other Populations Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 2000; 162(2): 424 - 429. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. M. IP, E. M. KARLBERG, K.-N. CHAN, J. P. E. KARLBERG, K. D. K. LUK, and J. C. Y. LEONG Lung Function Reference Values in Chinese Children and Adolescents in Hong Kong . II. Prediction Equations for Plethysmographic Lung Volumes Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 2000; 162(2): 430 - 435. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. JONES, R. CASTILE, S. DAVIS, J. KISLING, D. FILBRUN, R. FLUCKE, A. GOLDSTEIN, C. EMSLEY, W. AMBROSIUS, and R. S. TEPPER Forced Expiratory Flows and Volumes in Infants . Normative Data and Lung Growth Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 1, 2000; 161(2): 353 - 359. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. A. ALISON, J. A. REGNIS, P. M. DONNELLY, R. D. ADAMS, C. E. SULLIVAN, and P. T. P. BYE End-Expiratory Lung Volume during Arm and Leg Exercise in Normal Subjects and Patients with Cystic Fibrosis Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 1998; 158(5): 1450 - 1458. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. ALISON, J. A. REGNIS, P. M. DONNELLY, R. D. ADAMS, J. R. SUTTON, and P. T. P. BYE Evaluation of Supported Upper Limb Exercise Capacity in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 1997; 156(5): 1541 - 1548. [Abstract] [Full Text]