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ORIGINAL RESEARCHEXHALED NITRIC OXIDEFraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxide at 50 mL/s: Reference Values for Adult Lifelong Never-Smokers
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Materials and Methods
A general population sample of men and women who were 25 to 75 years old was randomly selected from the population register in Göteborg, Sweden. Between April 2001 and November 2005, FENO was investigated in 3,376 adult subjects. All subjects received a postal questionnaire and an invitation to undergo a clinical examination, as previously described.10 Those who had never smoked (n = 1,803) were selected for this study. Of these, 507 subjects reporting physician-diagnosed asthma,11 asthma
Results
Table 1 presents basic data about the subjects. The geometric mean of FENO for the whole population was 16.6 ppb (95% RI, 5.87 to 47.14). FENO was higher among subjects with atopy, 18.8 ppb (95% RI, 6.03 to 58.74) compared to 16.0 ppb (95% RI, 5.91 to 58.76) among nonatopic subjects. FENO was higher among men (18.5 ppb; 95% RI, 16.67 to 51.13) compared to women (14.9 ppb; 95% RI, 5.36 to 41.52). However, when comparing men and women with similar height and age, FENO was similar between the
Discussion
This study gives reference equations for predicted normal FENO for adults, based on 1,131 healthy never-smokers from a random general population sample. As previously shown, age and height are significant explanatory variables, but sex is not when height is allowed for. Our study contributes new knowledge as it is the first study that has outlined reference values according to age and height among adults.
The equations have a low explanatory value resulting in wide RIs. The equations explained
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2020, Respiratory MedicineCitation Excerpt :Nevertheless, we employed similar FENO devices and applied a validated conversion model to standardise FENO to the recommended expiratory flow of 50 mL/s [21] to obtain comparable values. The standardised FENO values are similar to those obtained in large general populations studies [46] and also by applying a reference equation to our pooled population [47]. The FENO value obtained in Örebro in the present study is in harmony with the values found in a general population study from Gothenburg in Sweden [44], which employed the recommended expiratory flow of 50 mL/s.
The study was supported by the Swedish Council for Work Life and Social Research (FAS), the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation and Astra-Zeneca, Sweden.
The authors have reported to the ACCP that no significant conflicts of interest exist with any companies/organizations whose products or services may be discussed in this article.