Correlation between standing height, sitting height, and arm span as an index of pulmonary function in 6-10-year-old children

The present study evaluates the relationships of pulmonary volumes and flows and the anthropometric variables of standing height, sitting height, and arm span in 100 6–10‐year‐old children. To be included in the study, all children were required to be healthy and above the 3rd percentile of the curve of Tanner et al. (Arch Dis Child 1966;41:454–471; Arch Dis Child 1966;41:613–635) for height and weight. Standing height, sitting height, and arm span were measured according to standard protocol. The pulmonary function measurements were: tidal volume, minute respiratory volume, respiratory rate, expiratory reserve volume, inspiratory capacity, vital capacity, residual volume (RV), functional residual capacity, total lung capacity (TLC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec of FVC (FEV1), forced expiratory flow measured between 25–75% of FVC, and FEV1/FVC and RV/TLC ratios. Simple linear regression best expressed the correlation between pulmonary function and the anthropometric variables. Significant correlations between anthropometric and pulmonary function measurements were observed, with FVC and FEV1 showing the highest and RV the lowest r2 values. There was a significant positive correlation between standing height and arm span according to linear regression and Bland‐Altman comparison (Bland and Altman, Lancet 1968;8:307–310). Our results suggest that when an accurate determination of standing height cannot be obtained, arm span could be used interchangeably, using the same regression equation. However, for patients with limb deformities, regression equations of pulmonary function measurements in relation to sitting height may be a better choice for estimating pulmonary function. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:202–208. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.