A Formula Developed for the Prediction of Residual Volume of Female Subjects While Immersed

Abstract

The closed-circuit oxygen dilution technique was used to measure residual volume (RV) in 100 female Ss, age 10 to 56, while seated on land (RV dry) and while immersed to the neck (RV wet). There was a significant difference (p<.05) between RV wet and RV dry. A prediction formula for determining RV was developed by regressing smoking history (SH) and physical characteristics of age, chest depth (CI), height were not significant (p<.05) predictors of RV and, subsequently were not included in the final prediction formula. Through the use of a step-wise multiple regression process, the following prediction formula was developed: 0.01765336(AGE) + 0.0399657(C)2) + 0.0149732 (HT) = 0.00747103(WT) - 2.20767. The variation (R) attributed to the independent variables was .60. This R was higher than that reported by Crapo et al. (1982) (R2=.48) and Goldman and Becklake (1950) (R2=.30). The standard error of estimate (S.E.E.) for this prediction formula was (S.E.E.=381 ml), Goldman and Becklake (1959) (S.E.E.=360 ml), and Grimby and Soderholm (1963) (S.E.E.=326ml). Using the data obtained from this study, there was a significant difference (p<.05) between RV determined from previously published studies (Prev RV) and RV determined from the newly developed formula (New RV). There was also a significant difference (p<.05) between Prev RV and RV wet.