spirometry

Question 1

diagnosis of COPD on spirometry

Answer 1

FEV1/FVC <70%

Question 2

what is FVC?

Answer 2

forced vital capacity - total that can be blown out

Question 3

what is FEV1?

Answer 3

amount that can be blown out in 1 second

Question 4

FEV1/FVC - what’s normal? what does it mean if less?

Answer 4

70-85%

less - obstructive disease eg asthma, COPD

Question 5

what are the obstructive lung diseases?

Answer 5

asthma
COPD
chronic bronchitis + emphysema

Question 6

how are FEV1 and FVC affected in obstructive disease?

Answer 6

in obstructive disease, there’s resistance to expiratory flow

FEV1 - v reduced
FVC - normal or reduced
FEV1/FVC v reduced

Question 7

what are the restrictive diseases?

Answer 7

fibrosis

Question 8

how are FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC affected in restrictive diseases?

Answer 8

in restrictive disease, lung expansion is restricted, so FVC and FEV1 are both reduced, but more proportionally

FEV1 - reduced
FVC - v reduced
FEV1/FVC - normal or increased