UPMC Children’s Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine Division Publishes New Study in JAMA Pediatrics on Race-Neutral Spirometry Findings
July 17, 2024
A new study just published in JAMA Pediatrics investigated the impact of implementing race-neutral reference equations, specifically the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLIN, 2023), on spirometry interpretation in children.
Daniel J. Weiner, MD, FAAP, FCCP, ATSF, professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was a co-author of the investigation, along with former division colleague Erik Forno, MD, MPH, and Christian Rosas-Salazar, MD, MPH, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Dr. Weiner is the medical director of the Pulmonary Function Testing Laboratory and co-director of The Antonio J. and Janet Palumbo Cystic Fibrosis Center at UPMC Children’s
Brief Overview of the Study
The study analyzed spirometry data from 24,630 children aged 6 to 21 years across two large pediatric institutions in the U.S. The findings from Dr. Weiner and colleague’s study showed significant changes in spirometry results, particularly marked by racial differences. In black children, the use of the GLIN led to a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) z scores and percent predicted, while these metrics increased slightly in white children. The proportion of normal spirometry patterns decreased in black children, with nearly one in five transitioning to a different pattern, indicating potential shifts in clinical interpretation and management of pediatric lung diseases among racial groups. The findings from the research highlight important implications of adopting race-neutral spirometry reference equations when conducting pediatric pulmonary assessments.
In Depth Analysis of the Research
Learn more about the study and its clinical implications in an article on Healio.com featuring Dr. Weiner and his comments on the study.
Study Reference and Link
Download and read the entire study using the following reference link: Forno E, Weiner DJ, Rosas-Salazar C. Spirometry Interpretation After Implementation of Race-Neutral Reference Equations in Children. JAMA Pediatr. 2024; 178(7): 699-706.
