Pitt Pediatrics congratulates Daniel Weiner, MD, FAAP, FCCP, ATSF, and Erick Forno, MD, MPH, both of the Division of Pulmonology, on their recent publication “Race and Ethnicity in Pulmonary Function Test Interpretation: An Official American Thoracic Society Statement” in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 
The publication, which is the result of an American Thoracic Society (ATS) workshop, addresses the role of racial identifiers when evaluating and interpreting pulmonary function tests (PFT). PFTs are noninvasive tests that are generally used to measure how well the lungs are working. However, there has been a rising concern among pulmonologists that the use of racial and ethnic identifiers in PFT evaluation may lead to health disparities through the norming of differences in pulmonary function among various races and ethnicities.
The ATS workshop group, of which Weiner and Forno served as representatives of the pediatric assembly of the ATS, ultimately recommended to replace race and ethnicity-specific equations with race-neutral average reference equations, and emphasized the importance of re-evaluating how PFTs are employed in clinical, employment, and insurance decisions. Other statements pointed to the need to engage with stakeholders not represented at the ATS meeting, in order to best anticipate and manage unforeseen issues with the shift towards race-neutral equations. More research and education around the recommendation and impact of the change was also prioritized.
A follow up editorial about the publication was later released, acknowledging the controversial recommendation and the history behind race-specific equations in PFTs. The editorial re-emphasized the need for evidence-based discussion around the ATS’ recommendation and encouraged ongoing debate.
Follow Pitt Pediatrics on Twitter for further updates about research and education in pulmonology, as well as Weiner and Forno’s ongoing efforts.