Etiology of ethnic differences in childhood spirometry

This study examined whether cultural factors, socioeconomic status, intrauterine growth, environmental exposures, and/or a family and personal history of wheeze contributed to the known ethnic differences in spirometric lung function in 1363 children aged 9–14 years enrolled in a population-based birth cohort in the United Kingdom. As part of the study, children underwent pre- and post-bronchodilator lung function testing using the Vitalograph Pneumotrac device.