Volume 19 Issue 3 September 2010Original Research
Exploring the need to update lung age equations
Pages 242-247
*Wendy Newburya, Jonathan Newburyb, Nancy Briggsc, Alan Crockettd
a
Discipline of General Practice, School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, University of Adelaide; Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, University of Adelaide and University of South Australia
b
Professor, Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, University of Adelaide and University of South Australia
c
Data Management & Analysis Centre, Discipline of Public Health, University of Adelaide
d
Associate Professor, Primary Care Respiratory Research Unit, Discipline of General Practice, School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, University of Adelaide
Received 22 November 2009 • Accepted 23 March 2010 • Online 12 May 2010
Abstract
AIMS: A renewed interest in lung age is evidenced by recent smoking cessation publications. This research compares the original Morris
lung age equations (1985) with contemporary Australian lung age equations.
METHODS: Both lung age equations were applied to the spirometry results of two sub-groups (never-smokers n=340, and current smokers
n=50) from an independent dataset. Means of both lung age estimates were compared to the mean of the chronological age of each
group by paired Student’s t-test.
RESULTS: The Morris lung age estimates were paradoxically lower (younger) than chronological age in both groups. The new Australian
equation produced lung age estimates that were equivalent to chronological age in the never-smoker group and significantly higher (older)
than chronological age in the current smoker group.
CONCLUSIONS: These results strongly suggest that the Morris lung age equations are in need of review. The use of contemporary lung age
equations may translate into greater success for smoking cessation programs. The new Australian equations seem to possess internal
validity.
Keywords
Lung age, smoking cessation, spirometry
* Corresponding author. Wendy Newbury Tel: +61 419 324 529 Fax: +61 8 8683 2095 Email: wendy.newbury@adelaide.edu.au | |
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