TY - JOUR T1 - Choosing and using lung function prediction equations JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 1535 LP - 1537 DO - 10.1183/13993003.01744-2016 VL - 48 IS - 6 AU - Martin R. Miller Y1 - 2016/12/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/6/1535.abstract N2 - In a survey of lung function laboratories some years ago, a surprisingly large number of laboratories were found not to know exactly which equations were being used to help them make judgements about their patients' results [1]. Many manufacturers' equipment includes a choice of reference values and the default selection may end up being used without further or due consideration. When choosing which equations to use, laboratory directors and clinicians may worry that their patients might be assessed against an inappropriate standard, thus introducing potential errors in their decision making. The European Respiratory Society has sponsored the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) in obtaining coherent reference equations for spirometry appropriate for all ages [2] and advocates these being the standard applied for spirometry within Europe. In this issue of the European Respiratory Journal (ERJ), two groups of European researchers have looked at their local populations to see if the GLI-2012 equations were a satisfactory fit and so can be safely used for clinical decision making [3, 4].The GLI-2012 reference equations give the best fit for patients undergoing spirometry lung function testing http://ow.ly/NikG304sh0n ER -