I’ve just attended a training course on spirometry and was tested myself as part of that.
Results all good, FVC 5.67L (128% predicted), VC 5.82L (126%), fev1 3.62L (103%). peak flow 709L/min
BUT FEV1/VC only 62% and the flow/volume loop shows a very concave picture from 1 sec to about 4 secs
Trainer suggests this looks like an element of obstruction in the bronchi
I’m 57, a little overweight at present BMI~27, have hay fever but never felt any asthmatic symptoms, other than once or twice in the pool when I first started swimming
any comment? Is it worth getting reversibility testing and most important am I likely to get any quicker if it turns out I do need an inhaler?!
Normal variant. No further testing required.
It’s a mathematical problem that results in a reduction of the ratio. Both your FVC and FEV1 are > 100% implying normal function. FEV1/FVC tells us if there is obstruction. If it is reduced then yes, except in this case it is simply because the FEV1 is not as high as FVC.
FEV1 3.62L
FVC 5.67 L
FEV1/FVC = 3.62/5.67= 62%
Hope that helps.