A prediction equation for the estimation of vital capacity in nepalese young females

Chatterjee P, Banerjee AK, Das P. A prediction equation for the estimation of vital capacity in nepalese young females. J. Hum. Sport Exerc. Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 27-32, 2011. Till date no effort has been made to evaluate vital capacity of children and young adults in Nepal. At present it is difficult to achieve accuracy in clinical diagnosis because of the lack of a unified standard of the normal reference value in young women’s Vital capacity in Nepal. So, the present study was carried out to evaluate Vital capacity of healthy Nepalese young females, to formulate a prediction equation and to validate the applicability of the equation. One hundred and three young, non-smokers, female students of 17 to 22 years of age were recruited for this study. A stepwise, multiple, linear, regression equation was performed to derive a prediction equation. Validity of the prediction equation was studied using Bland and Altman method of approach for limits of agreement. The mean Vital capacity of Nepalese girls was 2648.05±378.26 ml. The difference between the mean (± standard deviation) vital capacity values of direct measurement and the predicted vital capacity (PVC=2647.12±319.92) was statistically insignificant. Analysis of data by Bland and Altman method of approach for limits of agreement reveals that the prediction equation may be used confidently in place of direct procedure. The regression equation based on height for the studied population is calculated as: Vital Capacity (ml)= 55.68×Height(cm)–6084.15.