In asthma diagnosis, data from spirometry testing of patients is used in conjunction with reference equations to determine the degree and severity of a patient’s case. Those equations adjust for parameters such as age, sex and height. Until recently, they have also—mistakenly—adjusted for race “based on the flawed premise that racial groups have innate differences in lung function.”
In 2023, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) changed its recommendation to support the use of race-neutral equations. They now believe using race as a factor in spirometry interpretation can lead to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis as well as undertreatment or inappropriate treatment, especially for individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Further, race-neutral equations are now considered more accurate and reliable in assessing lung function. Studies are now being published that compare previously obtained results based on race-specific equations with results based on race-neutral equations obtained today.