PFT stats question

[janno]

According to my PFT test, my FEV1/FVC is decreased at 64%. My Dr. said this is mild COPD but from what I have read it indicates moderate COPD. Does anyone know if the criteria will change due to our age and that is why it might be considered mild?

[Troilus]

Yes, janno, you are right. Everyone’s lung function reduces with age and the “norms” are adjusted accordingly. (I keep thinking that if I can hold my own, then maybe, when I’m approaching 100 I will be normal.😁😁)

They used to categorise copd stages by fev1 - again the predicted values are based on age, sex and height. That seems to have changed to a more symptom based approach.

Here is a link that explains it all.

webmd.com/lung/copd/gold-cr...

[janno in reply to Troilus]

Thank you. Your link was helpful as well as your positive attitude.

[Karenanne61]

I understand the desire to 'categorise' our illnesses but we are all different so someone in the very severe bracket may function better than another in the mild bracket. All the doctors I've seen say I'm not what the numbers suggest. I take that as a positive! 🤣

[janno in reply to Karenanne61]

Thank you, I think it is good advice to concern myself less with the numbers and more with how I am doing.

[Tia4209]

The stage is normally determined by the Fev1 result only Maybe your Dr could give you the full results of your test rather than just the FEV1/ FVC ratio.

[janno in reply to Tia4209]

Thank you. I focused on this ratio and now I understand that there is more for me to look at.

[Biker88]

it’s not so much the figures but how its affecting you, mines at 30% due to Aspergillosis, emphysema, leaky heart valve and copious scarring. I now get very breathless and generally use a mobility scooter or walker. I’m not bad enough for oxygen yet and still manage to get about and do things like going fishing. The figures are only a rough guide, it enables you to see if the condition is getting worse or staying about the same. For comparison I look at the peak flow apparently the average peak flow for my age is about 700 I can only manage 250.

[janno in reply to Biker88]

Thank you for your reply, it is very helpful.

[PaulineHM]

Hi Janno, you are looking at only one way of measuring the stages of COPD. GOLD recently produced another way of understanding where we are in the progression of the condition.

Although it is a progressive condition, many aspects of that progress can be mitigated by our healthy behaviours and keeping ourselves as well as possible.

You might find the link below interesting ?

healthline.com/health/copd/...

Wishing you well.

Pauline

[janno in reply to PaulineHM]

Thank you, I appreciate your reply and your informative article. I do work at trying to keep my condition mild but when I recently developed my first chest cold in several years I went into panic mode because I am always afraid it will cause some lung decline even though given prednisone. As you said, we really need to work at staying healthy.

[PaulineHM in reply to janno]

Good for you…. Sounds like you are doing well. I am always careful with my hands. As soon as I am home after being out anywhere then they get washed and dried before I do anything else!

Keep well.

[jackdup]

if you have a copy of your PFT results post your FEV1% of predicted, which is what will tell the stage you are at.

[janno in reply to jackdup]

Upon further reading and looking at my results, I now know why I am considered to be in the mild stage. Thank you.

[jackdup in reply to janno]

That’s great and happy you are mild.

[Timberman]

The average percentage reading is not changed I read for age but the 'expected' average is lower if you are over 70. For a younger person 95-100 is considered normal; over 70 years then 90-95 is more normal.

I am 79, have a FEV1 of 32% (six months ago) and thus am severe COPD (emphysema and bronchiectasis) plus congestive heart failure so pretty breathless; on O2 15 hr pd at 1lpm).

My resting sats is about 94%. It drops to high 80s on moderate exertion ( showering and drying is bad so I usually get help).

It recovers without O2 in about 2 minutes to 91-2; with O2 that is about 1 minute.

After a good night sleep I can wake at 98%!

But for the record a respected and trusted specialist once joked (as if!) "Richard, you have the lungs of a 95 years old". I was 70 at the time...

[janno in reply to Timberman]

I found what you have stated to be very interesting and informative. Thanks, I wish you well.

[TheOldBoy]

Hi Janno, I had / made the same mistake when I was first diagnosed… your FEV1/FVC ratio gives a simple yes/no diagnosis the FEV1 on its own (as a percentage of predicted) is used for staging, so for eg my FEV1/FVC is 67% while my FEV1 is 87%… so that’s a positive diagnosis of mild COPD… Basically you need to get your FEV1 as a percentage (not volumetric as in litres). COPD is a numbers game and it’s difficult to get your head around to begin with…

Cheers, Adam

[janno in reply to TheOldBoy]

Thanks Adam. After reading your reply, as well as replies from others, I have a better understanding of the test and diagnosis. This was really helpful