Can't make sense of recent lung function test.

[Ferrariman]

Hi guys, new here and looking for some advice. Had a lung function and VO2 max test done last week as part of an overall medical test and I am somewhat confused by the results. I am 35 years old, 185cm tall and weigh a lean 85kg. Here are my results:

FEV1 127.1 %

FVC 121.1 %

FEV1/FVC ratio 86.7 %

According to everything I have read the norm for FEV1/FVC is between 70% and 80%.

Can anybody help me to understand these values? The lady who did the test also said that I have large lungs if that is of any significance? My VO2 max was considered poor at circa 32.ml/kg/min also!?

Thanks in advance

[casper99]

Hi Ferrariman and welcome.

I'm not very good at the numbers, so I can't comment but someone will be along soon that does. xx

[soulsaver]

It's not COPD.

Fev1 is a volume in litres(UK) as is FVC. Those %s are a comparison to predicted for your height & gender.

Why were you having the test?

What were you told by the people who did the test?

[Ferrariman in reply to soulsaver]

I had the test as part of a bupa health assessment, to be honest nothing was explained and it says it's normal in my report. However when I came away I researched lots of the findings in my whole assessment. It says that 80% is normal anything more is classed as restricted!?? Is this the case?

[soulsaver in reply to Ferrariman]

Restricted is both Fev1 and FVC is reduced, clearly yours isn't.

Fev1/FVC ratio is considered normal at c. 80% (note: NOT the lower limit) but I'd guess that 87% is within normal tolerance. BUPA know their stuff, and tend to leave no stone unturned so if they say it's normal..it'll be right.

I asked why you were having the test because if you had unexplained symptoms I'd be a little less confident.

[Ferrariman]

So what does higher and lower actually mean in this context? Is it better to have higher or lower values?

[Ferrariman]

So would my large lungs (as she put it) have something to do with the 86% reading?