The Quanjer GLI-2012 regression equations for spirometric indices arose from the work of a Task Force of the European Respiratory Society. Their report has been endorsed by the European Respiratory Society (ERS), American Thoracic Society (ATS), Australian and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science (ANZSRS), Asian Pacific Society for Respirology (APSR), Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).
The Task Force (Global Lung Function Initiative, GLI) summarised the regression equations and lookup tables, required for implementation into software, in an Excel file. The GLI group also produced tools for calculating predicted values, their lower limits of normal and the z-scores of measured indices, as well as facilities for analysing datasets. The tools are accessible via the menu on the left. By law the use of the GLI software packages is restricted to research, education, training and validation of implementation in software; they are not to be used in patient treatment.
It is recommended to regularly check for updates and bug fixes.
ERS TASK FORCE REPORT. Multi-ethnic reference values for spirometry for the 3–95-yr age range: the global lung function 2012 equations
TL,CO Tools
The Stanojevic GLI-2017 regression equations for transfer factor for carbon monoxide arose from the work of a Task Force of the European Respiratory Society. Their report has been endorsed by the European Respiratory Society (ERS).
The aim of the study was to develop The Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) all-age reference values for TL,CO. Data from 19 centres in 14 countries were collected to define TL,CO reference values. Similar to the GLI spirometry project, reference values were derived using the LMS method and the GAMLSS program in R. A total of 12 660 TL,CO measurements from asymptomatic, lifetime non-smokers were submitted; 85% of the submitted data were from Caucasians. All data were uncorrected for haemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Following adjustments for elevation above sea level, gas concentration, and assumptions used for calculating the anatomic dead space volume, there was a high degree of overlap among the datasets. Reference values for Caucasians aged 5 to 85 years were derived for TL,CO, carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO) and alveolar volume (VA).
Official ERS technical standards: Global Lung Function Initiative reference values for the carbon monoxide transfer factor for Caucasians
Lung Volume Tools
The GLI reference equations for static lung volumes conducted as part of a European Respiratory Society Task Force are now available.
https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/57/3/2000289.
The technical statement has been endorsed by the European Respiratory Society, the American Thoracic Society, Australian and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, the Pan African Thoracic Society and the Latin American Thoracic Society.
The aim of the study was to develop the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) all-age multi-ethnic reference equations for static lung volume indices from body plethysmography and gas dilution techniques in healthy individuals (never smokers, no history of respiratory disease). Data from non-European ancestry populations were insufficient to develop multi-ethnic equations, thus the current equations are limited to individuals of European ancestry. Similar to the GLI spirometry and TL,CO projects, reference values were derived using the LMS method and GAMLSS program in R. A total of 7,190 observations from 17 centres in 11 countries were used to define the reference values. Sex-specific reference equations for individuals of European ancestry aged 5 to 80 years were derived for total lung capacity (TLC), forced residual capacity (FRC), residual volume (RV), inspiratory capacity (IC), vital capacity (VC), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), and RV/TLC.
