The recent multi-ethnic global lung initiative 2012 (GLI2012 ) reference values don't reflect contemporary adult's North African spirometry

Summary Background The applicability of the recent multi-ethnic reference equations derived by the ERS Global Lung Initiative (ERS/GLI) in interpreting spirometry data in North African adult subjects has not been studied. Objective To ascertain how well the recent ERS/GLI reference equations fit contemporary adult Tunisian spirometric data. Population and methods Spirometric data were recorded from 1192 consecutive spirometry procedures in adults aged 18–60 years. Reference values and lower limits of normality (LLN) were calculated using the local and the ERS/GLI reference equations. Applied definitions : large airway obstructive ventilatory defect ( LAOVD ): FEV1 /FVC