Ventilatory function in Malay office workers in Malaysia

A study was carried out to determine ventilatory capacity (Forced Expiratory Volume or FEV1 and Forced Vital Capacity or FVC) in apparently normal Malay office workers in Malaysia. The subjects, 78 males and 113 females, were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire to exclude those with symptoms or past history of cardiopulmonary disease. Measurements of age, height, weight, FEV, and FVC were made on each subject; the FEV, and FVC were measured using Vitalograph spirometers. The mean FEV, and FVC for males were 3.35 litres and 3.76 Iitres, respectively. For females, the mean FEV, and FVC were 3.46 and 2.72 Iitres, respectively. Height was positively correlated with FEV, and FVC (p