The importance of determining spirometric values is indisputable, not only for the individual and longitudinal monitoring of patients but also for the assessment of populations, which can even influence public and collective health care measures.(1) In addition, due to the enormous advances in medicine and the interaction among diverse pediatric subspecialties, the data obtained at pulmonary function laboratories—where spirometry is undoubtedly the most popular exam, because it is easily accessible and feasible for use in preschoolers and older chidren— can assist in the standard of care of these patients. Therefore, it is very important to have reference values for spirometry in a healthy population in order to allow the distinction between health and disease, measure the impact of diseases on lung function, diagnose pathologies correctly, maximize care for patients with chronic lung disease, and monitor the growth and the development of the lungs and airways in healthy children or in those with different pathologies.
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