Effect of small airway dysfunction on large airway function parameters in elderly adults

Abstract

Abstract Background To investigate the effect of simple small airway dysfunction (SAD) on large airway function parameters in old people. Methods Elderly patients aged 60–80 years with complete pulmonary function data including the measured/predicted values of ≥ 80% for each of forced expiratory capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF), and FEV1/FVC ≥ 70% were included. Patients with no known smoking history, normal chest computerized tomography, and the measured/predicted values of ≥ 70% for each of maximal flows at 50% and 25% of remaining FVC (MEF50 and MEF25) and maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) were categorized into the control group, whereas patients with the measured/predicted values of 0 (FVC/SVC 0.02 L had a certain predictive value for SAD in the elderly.

Keywords

• Old people
• Small airway dysfunction
• Large airway
• Parameters of lung function