Introduction

Reference values of maximal respiratory pressures (MRP) collected according ATS/ERS guidelines are scarce worldwide.

Aims

To collect reference values and to establish new reference equations for maximal inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory pressures (PEmax) in healthy Spanish adults.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 14 Spanish centres. Healthy non-smoking volunteers 18-80 years old were recruited and stratified by sex and decades. After anthropometry measurements, PImax/PEmax were performed as one-second plateau pressure from residual volume and total lung capacity, respectively. A digital manometer and a flanged mouthpiece were used. Multiple linear regressions were used to obtain reference equations.

Results

The sample was composed of 610 subjects (48±17 years, 314 females). Results from ANOVA test between 3 nested models led us to select the case that considers the age and the body mass index (BMI) as predictor variables in both sexes

Conclusions

This constitutes the largest dataset of MRP in European population under standardised measurement conditions complied with the international standards. These results could be use in different European populations with similar anthropometric characteristics that do not count with their own reference equations (e.g., Portugal, Belgium, France or Greece), and in those with equations obtained many years ago (e.g., United Kingdom or Italy).