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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 16, Number 2

Clinical features of subjects with an isolated FEV1 reduction

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BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of an isolated reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1; i.e., low FEV1, but normal forced vital capacity [FVC] and FEV1/FVC) has not been established.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinical features of subjects with an isolated FEV1 reduction.

METHODS: Clinical, spirometry and radiological data were retrospectively collected from 15 192 subjects attending a medical check-up at the Health Promotion Center of the Asan Medical Center, Korea. Predicted spirometry values were calculated from the Korean reference equations, and the lower limit of normal was set at the 5th percentile. Subjects were divided into four groups: isolated FEV1 reduction, normal (normal FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC), obstructive (low FEV1/FVC) and restrictive (low FVC and normal FEV1/FVC). The groups were compared in terms of clinical characteristics.

RESULTS: Of the 15 192 subjects, 323 (2.1%) had an isolated FEV1 reduction, 10 591 (69.7%) were normal, 951 obstructive (6.3%) and 3327 (22.0%) restrictive. The isolated FEV1 reduction group had a higher proportion of subjects with smoking history (63.2% vs. 45.7%), radiology abnormalities (15.5% vs. 4.3%) and history of respiratory disease (8.4% vs. 3.0%) than the normal group (all P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: An isolated FEV1 reduction suggests abnormal spirometry, and further study is needed to evaluate whether these cases belong to the obstructive or restrictive group.

Keywords: FEV1; chest radiography; respiratory symptom; spirometry

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Health Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 2: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea 3: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 4: Health Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Publication date: 01 February 2012

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  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

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