The FEV₁/FEV₆ ratio is a good substitute for the FEV₁/FVC ratio in the elderly

Abstract

Aims:

To determine the agreement between the FEV₁/FEV₆ ratio and the FEV₁/FVC ratio in an elderly population.

Method:

The study sample consisted of 3874 participants in a cross-sectional population survey in Tromso¨, Norway, aged 60 years or more, in whom acceptable spirometry had been obtained. Mean differences between the FEV₁/FEV₆ ratio (%) and the FEV₁/FVC ratio (%) were calculated according to age, sex, smoking habit, and the degree of airflow limitation. ROC-curve analysis and Kappa-statistics were used to estimate the utility of the FEV₁/FEV₆ ratio in predicting an FEV₁/FVC ratio< 70%.

Results:

The mean difference between FEV₁/FEV₆% and FEV₁/FVC% was 2.7% in both men and women. The difference between the two measures increased somewhat with increasing age, and was more pronounced with smoking and decreasing FEV₁/FVC ratio. The value for the FEV₁/FEV₆ ratio which best predicted an FEV₁/FVC ratio of 70%, was 73%, and a very good agreement was found between these two cutoff values (kappa = 0.86).

Conclusion:

The FEV₁/FEV₆ ratio appears to be a good substitute for the FEV₁/FVC ratio in an elderly population.

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