Development of valid pulmonary function equations for trained athletes.
The validity of commonly recommended pulmonary function prediction equations (Bulletin Européen de Physiopathologie Respiratoire, Clinical Respiratory Physiology) was tested with two samples (n1 = 156; n2 = 218) of well-trained athletes. Pulmonary function measures (FVC, TLC, RV, FEF25%-75%, FEV1.0, PEF, RV/TCL ratio, FEV1.0/FVC ratio) were typically very reliable but inaccurately predicted with recommended equations based upon anthropometric characteristics. Newly developed "unisex" regression equations were developed with "dummy" coding of gender (i.e., 0 = female; 1 = male), age, height, weight, and various interactions. The new equations were validated with a subsample of group one, cross-validated with the remaining portion of group one, and then cross-validated again with the 218 subjects from sample two. The newly created pulmonary function prediction equations are more valid for well-trained athletes than the equations in use for the general population.