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Spirometric       Classification
           The       normal lung function, when measured with Spirometry, diminishes       approximately 5% every 10 years after age 35 years old.  Therefore, it is       rare for a person over 35 to have a “100%”   In addition, the normal       values for the FVC and FEV (2 of the measurements in a pulmonary function       test) vary depending on age, height, sex and race.  The numbers are higher       for:

     

       

         

           

             
• 35 years old vs 65 years old
             
• Taller than shorter builds
             
• Men than women
             
• Caucasian than most other races.
           

         

       

     

     

 The number used (FEV1) is a percent of the average       expected of someone of your height, age, sex and race.   It is       expressed       as a percent of predicted.  Any number over 80% is considered normal

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

STAGE		Symptoms	Pulmonary Function Tests             (PFT) with an FEV1 result of:
STAGE I	mild	Often minimal shortness of             breath with or without cough and/or sputum. Usually goes             unrecognized that lung function is abnormal	>  80% of predicted
STAGE II	moderate	Often moderate or severe             shortness of breath on exertion, with or without cough, sputum or dyspnea.              Often the first stage at which medical attention is sought due to             chronic respiratory symptoms or an exacerbation	50-80% of predicted
STAGE III	severe	more severe             shortness of breath,  with or without cough, sputum or dyspnea             - often with repeated exacerbations which usually impact quality of             life,  reduced exercise capacity, fatigue	30 – 50% of predicted
STAGE IV	very severe	appreciably impaired quality             of life due to shortness of breath - possible exacerbations which may even be             life threatening at times	Less than 30% of predicted              --                          or less than 50% with chronic   respiratory failure

                               

The above chart is       based in part on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung       Disease.