Smoke and Mirrors!

[micox]

Hi. Yesterday, at a pulmonary rehab session I asked what my FEV1 score of 55% means. I was told it is 55% of an estimated predicted mean figure. When I asked what the predicted mean is, I was told that information isn't available! Now I understand personal health information has to be transparent but it is completely meaningless to inform patients of their FEV1 when this is obscured by pulmonary jargon.

[2greys]

"The predicted mean" is calculated from your age, gender, height and weight, it is therefore different for each individual. I have only had two spirometry tests done so far and both times was weighed and my height measured.

[micox]

Hi Meszi. I'm 79 and 5'10" (used to be 5'111/2")

[O2Trees]

The predicted range is for a well person of your height, weight etc. The weight IS important in this calculation.

[O2Trees]

Ive seen sites which do say height, though more that don't. Makes sense as height is fixed (at any given time as we lose some as we get older), whereas weight may fluctuate a lot.

[mrsmummy]

You may be mistaken Meszi. My home spirometer includes weight as well as age, height, gender, ethnicity and age and my weight is certainly checked every time I go for a hospital spirometry test.

[mrsmummy]

Hi Meszi. This link is to a site which shows only an image which someone has posted. It is not scientific or even anecdotal and appears to be 35 years old. I can only repeat that I am tested at the hospital and by my own spirometer and both use weight to obtain an accurate reading. Perhaps it is different outside of the UK. Which country are you in? Do your doctors not check your weight when you are having a spirometry test?

[mrsmummy]

So your doctors do use weight then? And you are basing your entire argument on how you use one you have at home? Perhaps you are right and you will educate all of the doctors one day.

[mrsmummy]

No Meszi it is not used to check if you are overweight but as previously explained it is so that your spirometry can be tested against the mean for someone of your ethnicity, weight, etc. to ensure accuracy. But I will leave it there.