Spirometric reference equations for European females and males aged 65–85 yrs
Open accessAbstract
The aim of this study was to describe spirometric reference equations for healthy never-smoking European adults aged 65–85 yrs and to compare the predicted values of this sample with those from other studies including middle-aged and/or older adults. Reference equations and normal ranges for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in six seconds (FEV 6), FEV 1/FVC ratio and FEV 1/FEV 6 ratio were derived from a healthy subgroup of 458 subjects aged 65–85 yrs. Spirometry examinations followed the 1994 American Thoracic Society recommendations and the quality of the data was continuously monitored and maintained. Reference values and lower limits of normal were derived using a piecewise polynomial model with age and height as predictors. The reference values of FEV 1 and FVC from the present study were higher than those given by prediction equations from the European Community for Coal and Steel. By contrast, use of prediction equations from Caucasian-American elderly subjects (Cardiovascular Health Study) consistently overpredicted FVC and FEV 1 in females by 8.5 and 2.1%, respectively. In males, equations from the Cardiovascular Health Study overpredicted FVC by 2.8%, whilst underpredicting FEV 1 by 2.5%. In conclusion, these results underscore the importance of using prediction equations appropriate to the origin, age and height characteristics of the subjects being studied.
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Lung function tends to deteriorate with age, which can be indicated by a reduction in the forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC).
“However, lung function tends to deteriorate with age, which can be indicated by a reduction in the forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC).260”
From Antiageing strategy for neurodegenerative diseases: from mechanisms to clinical advances (2025) · cites this paper as [260]
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- Authors
- García-Río, F., Pino, J. M., Dorgham, A., Alonso, A., & Villamor, J.
- Affiliations
- Hospital Universitario La Paz (ES)
- Venue
- European Respiratory Journal
- Publisher
- European Respiratory Society (ERS)
- Published
- 2004-09
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 397-405
- ISSN
- 0903-1936 (ISSN-L)
- 1399-3003
- OpenAlex
- W2143818382
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 5.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- European Respiratory Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Keywords
- spirometric reference values, prediction equations, older adults, FEV1, forced vital capacity, FEV6, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEV1/FEV6 ratio, lower limit of normal, piecewise polynomial model, age and height, European populations, Cardiovascular Health Study
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Body Height, Body Weight, Female, Humans, Male, Predictive Value of Tests, Reference Values, Respiratory Function Tests, Sex Factors, Spirometry, Cohort Studies
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