Primary Care Respiratory Journal

Volume 19 Issue 3 September 2010

Original Research

Exploring the need to update lung age equations

Pages 242-247
^*Wendy Newbury^a, Jonathan Newbury^b, Nancy Briggs^c, Alan Crockett^d

^aDiscipline 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

^bProfessor, Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, University of Adelaide and University of South Australia

^cData Management & Analysis Centre, Discipline of Public Health, University of Adelaide

^dAssociate 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.

Cite as: Newbury W, Newbury J, Briggs N, Crockett A. Exploring the need to update lung age equations. Prim Care Respir J 2010;19(3):242-247. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4104/pcrj.2010.00029

Keywords
Lung age, smoking cessation, spirometry

* Corresponding author. Wendy Newbury Tel: +61 8 8302 2525 Fax: +61 8 8683 2095 Email: wendy.newbury@adelaide.edu.au

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