Spirometry findings of chronic lung disease in high-altitude residents of Ladakh (>11,000 feet above sea level)

Ladakh is a hilly Himalayan dry desert, situated at an altitude of >11000 feet. Studies have demonstrated that the spirometric values of high-altitude residents are significantly higher than those of low-landers. This is a retrospective observational study that analyzes the spirometry pattern in chronic lung diseases among people from Ladakh. Enrolled subjects were clinic-radiologically diagnosed and had at least one spirometry report. The spirometric parameters were analyzed for normal and abnormal patterns of lung function. The abnormal patterns were further classified into types of ventilator defects and their severity. A total of 122 cases were included, with 67 (55%) men. The mean age was 52.2±15.4 years. The most common diseases were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 51 cases (41%), and asthma in 41 (33%). The median predicted percentage of forced vital capacity (FVC) was 116% (63-179%) with >100% in 105 (85%) patients. The median predicted percentage of the forced expiratory volume in the 1^st second (FEV1) was 113% (99-175%) with >100% in 90 (74%) patients. FVC was reduced in 9 (7%) cases, normal in 62 (51%), and more than normal in 49 (42%), with 11 (9%) cases having >150% of the predicted percentage. FEV1 was reduced in 9 (8%) cases, normal in 67 (55%), and more than normal in 46 (37%) cases, with >150% predicted seen in 10 (8%) cases. Similarly, overall, the predicted percentages of both FVC and FEV1 were >100% in all obstructive airway diseases as well as in the separate COPD and asthma subgroups. FVC and FEV1 amongst chronic lung disease patients from Ladakh were more than normal in the majority. These higher values of spirometry led to incorrect disease severity classifications and disease patterns. We propose that studies should be done to devise local reference equations for spirometry for Himalayan high-altitude residents of India.