Lung function in Greenlandic and Danish children and adolescents

Tyra Grove Krause*, Bo V. Pedersen, Simon Francis Thomsen, Anders Koch, Jan Wohlfahrt, Vibeke Backer, Mads Melbye

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Respiratory morbidity in Inuit children is high. However, little is know regarding lung function measures in this population. The forced expirat ory volumes in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in 888 Greenlandic Inuits (N = 888) and Danes (N = 477) aged 6-18 years were compared. Furthermore, associations between level of lung function and atopy and lifestyle factors were estimated in Greenlanders. The effect of height on FEV1 and FVC was significantly different in Greenlanders and Danes, this difference in lung function increased with increasing height, and could not be explained by differences in age weight and BMI. Thus, Greenlanders taller than 130 cm had up to 300-400 ml higher FEV1 and FVC compared with Danes of the same height. Among Greenlanders, those living in settlements had the highest levels of both FEV1 and FVC. Greenlanders had elevated levels of FEV1 and FVC compared with Danes. The Inuit having a shorter limb length in relation to trunk height may account for these differences. However, our finding that Greenlanders living in settlements had the highest lung function level also suggests a possible role of factors in the traditional Greenlandic lifestyle.

Original languageEnglish
JournalRespiratory Medicine
Volume99
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)363-371
Number of pages9
ISSN0954-6111
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2005

Keywords

  • Children
  • Denmark
  • Greenland
  • Inuit
  • Lung function
  • Spirometry

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