Introduction: It is recommended that spirometric testing in children be completed while sitting. Our experience indicates that children prefer standing during spirometry.
Aim: We sought to compare spirometric results obtained from the sitting (SIP) and standing (STP) positions.
Material and methods: Two testing sessions were performed in random order (SIP vs. STP: 30-45 min apart) in 118 children (7-13 years), attending one, randomly selected, primary school (response rate: 92%).
Results: Acceptable quality was found in 77.9% of STP and 77.1% of SIP maneuvers. Higher values of spirometric variables on STP, compared to SIP, were obtained for forced vital capacity (FVC) (2.12 ±0.41 l vs. 2.11 ±0.39 l) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (1.78 ±0.36 l vs. 1.77 ±0.35 l) but the differences were not statistically significant. Relative between-position differences (RBPD) ≤ 5% were found with the following frequencies: FVC: 56.4%, FEV1: 69.2%, PEF: 21.7%, and FEF25-75: 24.3%. Similar patterns were found for FEF25, FEF50, and FEF75. Relative between-position differences were related to age in the case of FEV1 (p = 0.005), FEF25 (p = 0.02), and FEF25-75 (p = 0.01) where older children had smaller RBPD. Forced vital capacity RBPD was lower (p = 0.01) in subjects with current wheeze; PEF RBPD were lower (p = 0.02) in children with asthma.
Conclusions: In epidemiological studies, the position of spirometric testing does not affect the results of lung function assessment.
Keywords: children; epidemiology; position; spirometry.