Ventilatory function in Malay office workers in Malaysia
Che' Man, A.B.; Lim, H.H.
Singapore Medical Journal 24(3): 135-139
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-5675 PMID: 6635675 Document Number: 218934
A study was carried out to determine ventilatory capacity (forced expiratory volume or FEV1, and forced vital capacity or FVC) in apparently normal Malay office workers in Malaysia. The subjects, 78 males and 113 females, were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire to exclude those with symptoms or past history of cardiopulmonary disease. Measurements of age, height, weight, FEV1 and FVC were made on each subject; the FEV1 and FVC were measured using Vitalograph spirometers. The mean FEV1 and FVC for males were 3.35 l and 3.76 l, respectively. For females, the mean FEV1 and FVC were 3.46 and 2.72 l, respectively. Height was positively correlated with FEV1 and FVC (P < 0.01). The correlation with age was not significant at the 1% level. Regression equations for predicting FEV1 and FVC of Malay male and female office workers were computed. The implications of the findings were discussed, and compared with other studies in Singapore and Britain.