PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Combined Asthma, peak flow, and spirometry thread
Old 13th Aug 2007, 15:46
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Bob the Doc
 
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To clarify, the FEV1/FVC ratio should be about 70% in healthy subjects. It is the ratio of the volume expired in 1 second during forced expiration (the FEV1) and the total volume expired in the same expired breath (the Forced Vital Capacity) the FVC is therefore ALWAYS higher than the FEV1 (unless, you complete the expiration in less than 1 second!)

An FEV1/FVC ratio of less than 70% suggests an obstructive disease (like asthma). A ratio of greater than 80% suggests other respiratory disease so 100% is definitely NOT the target to aim for!

The FEV1/FVC ratio is just one of the tests used to check respiratory function.

You need to be careful whether you are talking about a ratio between two values in the same patient or whether you are comparing a patient's value with the predicted value for a patient of that age and sex.

Sorry for the long post but it is important to get this distinction right
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