Arm span as an independent predictor of pulmonary function parameters: validation and reference values.

Background And Objectives: To determine if arm span can be used as a measure of body length in developing prediction equations for lung function and to compare these equations with height-derived equations.

Methods: Standing height and arm span were measured for all study subjects. Spirometry measurements included FVC, FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC ratio, PEFR, FEF(25), FEF(50), FEF(75) and FEF(25-75).