TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in the FEV1/FVC ratio during childhood and adolescence
T2 - An intercontinental study
AU - Quanjer, P. H.
AU - Stanojevic, S.
AU - Stocks, J.
AU - Hall, G. L.
AU - Prasad, K. V.V.
AU - Cole, T. J.
AU - Rosenthal, M.
AU - Perez-Padilla, R.
AU - Hankinson, J. L.
AU - Falaschetti, E.
AU - Golshan, M.
AU - Brunekreef, B.
AU - Al-Rawas, O.
AU - Kühr, J.
AU - Trabelsi, Y.
AU - Ip, M. S.M.
PY - 2010/12/1
Y1 - 2010/12/1
N2 - In children, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) is reportedly constant or falls linearly with age, whereas the ratio of residual volume (RV) to total lung capacity (TLC) remains constant. This seems counter-intuitive given the changes in airway properties, body proportions, thoracic shape and respiratory muscle function that occur during growth. The age dependence of lung volumes, FEV1/FVC and RV/TLC were studied in children worldwide. Spirometric data were available for 22,412 healthy youths (51.4% male) aged 4-20 yrs from 15 centres, and RV and TLC data for 2,253 youths (56.7% male) from four centres; three sets included sitting height (SH). Data were fitted as a function of age, height and SH. In childhood, FVC outgrows TLC and FEV1, leading to falls in FEV1/FVC and RV/TLC; these trends are reversed in adolescence. Taking into account SH materially reduces differences in pulmonary function within and between ethnic groups. The highest FEV1/FVC ratios occur in those shortest for their age. When interpreting lung function test results, the changing pattern in FEV1/FVC and RV/TLC should be considered. Prediction equations for children and adolescents should take into account sex, height, age, ethnic group, and, ideally, also SH. Copyright
AB - In children, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) is reportedly constant or falls linearly with age, whereas the ratio of residual volume (RV) to total lung capacity (TLC) remains constant. This seems counter-intuitive given the changes in airway properties, body proportions, thoracic shape and respiratory muscle function that occur during growth. The age dependence of lung volumes, FEV1/FVC and RV/TLC were studied in children worldwide. Spirometric data were available for 22,412 healthy youths (51.4% male) aged 4-20 yrs from 15 centres, and RV and TLC data for 2,253 youths (56.7% male) from four centres; three sets included sitting height (SH). Data were fitted as a function of age, height and SH. In childhood, FVC outgrows TLC and FEV1, leading to falls in FEV1/FVC and RV/TLC; these trends are reversed in adolescence. Taking into account SH materially reduces differences in pulmonary function within and between ethnic groups. The highest FEV1/FVC ratios occur in those shortest for their age. When interpreting lung function test results, the changing pattern in FEV1/FVC and RV/TLC should be considered. Prediction equations for children and adolescents should take into account sex, height, age, ethnic group, and, ideally, also SH. Copyright
KW - Ethnicity
KW - Growth and development
KW - Lung volume measurements
KW - Sitting height
KW - Thorax
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U2 - 10.1183/09031936.00164109
DO - 10.1183/09031936.00164109
M3 - Article
C2 - 20351026
AN - SCOPUS:78649726419
SN - 0903-1936
VL - 36
SP - 1391
EP - 1399
JO - European Respiratory Journal
JF - European Respiratory Journal
IS - 6
ER -