A lung function data repository has been established to aid the diagnosis of lung disease. Data collected from healthy individuals worldwide are now accessible to researchers, for the aim of improving the development of reference equations for lung function tests.
The repository is a result of the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) Clinical Research Collaboration (CRC). CRC's are an initiative led by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) to fund a network of researchers, from within or outside of ERS, to work on projects which aim to improve knowledge in respiratory health and medicine.
The lung function data is hosted by ERS and is maintained by the GLI network of researchers, inclusive of the GLI Lung Volumes ERS Task Force.
The GLI reference equations for carbon monoxide transfer factor (T,LCO), which have recently been published in the European Respiratory Journal (ERJ). Data from 19 centres in 14 countries were collected to define TLCO reference values from 12,660 asymptomatic, lifetime nonsmokers. Reference values for Caucasians aged 5–85 years were derived for T,LCO, transfer coefficient of the lung for carbon monoxide and alveolar volume. This represents the largest collection of normative T,LCO data, and the first global reference values available for T,LCO.
The GLI network is now welcoming lung function data collected from healthy individuals so that they can continue to develop available reference equations for lung function tests to improve the diagnosis and management of lung disease around the world. They will also provide infrastructure and support for researchers wishing to develop reference equations.
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