Forced Exhalation Volume Percentages

[chipper28]

After reading a lot of information that seemed to hone in on the
one second forced exhalation volume as a measurement of lung
health, I got curious and called around to a couple of doctors to
get some values.<br>
<br>
3/95   127%<br>
4/98   124%<br>
7//01  88% (was sick)<br>
4/04   119%<br>
4/05   112%<br>
6/05   91% followed by 106% post nebs (was sick)<br>
12/05 87% followed by 102% post nebs (was sick)<br>
6/06   112%<br>
<br>
Looking at these values, it seems to me that they do have a
consistent rate of decline.  My question is: is this
representative of decrease in lung function, or is it due to
changes in the expected values based on age?  

 

[kybert]

in your case id say its age.

 

[IG]

Can be a number of things ... and not just age. (from what I understand, while age certainly factors into it your won't take a significant decline just because you've gotten a year older. I do understand that's nearly 10 years but a lot happens in 10 years...)

For example have you been exercising less, moved to a different location...
Also machines have been improved over a 10 year period so I'm sure the readings are more precise.
I've also found that compairing PFTs from one clinic to the next is like compairing apples and oranges.
(I did a home PFT once, had 112%, went to the doc a few hours later 90%, tried a different machine 105% all on the same day)
I've even had techs tell me that you won't get a consistent read out from clinic to clinic or day to day just due to different factors (i.e. weather, different machines).

Just rambling...