Graphic analysis of flow-volume curves: a pilot study

Abstract

[...]FEV1 shows weak association with physical activity and subjective symptom scores such as St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) [1-3]; little correlation between FEV1 and hospital readmission in such patients is also reported [4]. [...]dyspnea scores and objectively measured exercise capacity should also be considered and taken into account. [ Table Omitted - see PDF ] Table 1 Clinical characteristics and conventional spirometric values of patients Mean (SD or %) N Age 71 (8) 61 Male 59 (96.7) BMI (kg/m2) 23.40 (3.40) 56 Smoking (pack-years) 44 (19) 59 FEV1/FVC 0.48 (0.12) 60 FEV1 (%) 65 (18) 60 DLco (%) 73 (20) 59 RV/TLC (%) 0.42 (0.11) 57 RV (%) 113 (43) 58 IC (L) 1.98 (0.56) 56 SGRQ (raw score) 1112 (571) 38 6MWD (m) 425 (126) 31 CAT 12.7 (7.7) 41 Abbreviations: BMI body mass index, FEV 1 forced expiratory volume in one second, FVC forced vital capacity, DLco diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, RV residual volume, TLC total lung capacity, IC inspiratory capacity, SGRQ St. George's respiratory questionnaire, 6MWD six-minute walking distance, CAT the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test Among 61 subjects, the pre-bronchodilator EFVC data for three subjects were missing, so they were excluded in the correlation analysis.