Examining the Impact of Race on Lung Capacity Measurements

In medical school, Aaron Baugh was taught that Black people have smaller lungs than white people, a belief attributed to evolution and body proportions. A spirometer, which measures lung capacity, has historically included a race equation in its assessments. For Black patients, the normal lung capacity range was considered to be 10 to 15 percent lower than that of white patients, based on the assumption that this correction improved test accuracy. However, Baugh, now a pulmonary and critical care physician, found that these historical assumptions were incorrect and rooted in racist science dating back to American slavery. This misrepresentation has led to misdiagnoses for many Black patients, including military veterans. Baugh emphasized the significance of the spirometer, stating, "This is not a small test. It is used in diagnosis of lung disease. It is used for job hiring. It is used for disability assignments. It is used for different medical treatments. So it can touch people in a lot of important ways if you’re doing this wrong." A recent episode of Reveal collaborated with The Race Equation podcast series from the New England Journal of Medicine to discuss the ongoing use of this flawed medical test and its detrimental effects on Black patients in hospitals across the United States.