Question

What does FEV1/FVC measure? What factors may affect FEV1/FVC?

Short answer

• The FEV1 measures how much air you can exhale in one second.
• The FVC measures the total amount of air you can exhale forcefully in one breath.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Introduction

• The FEV1/FVC is a ratio that reflects the amount of air forcefully exhale from lungs. It's measured by spirometry, a test used to evaluate lung function.
• The FEV1/FVC ratio is often used in diagnosing and monitoring the treatment of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Step 2. Explanation

• The FEV1 measures how much air you can exhale in one second.
• The FVC measures the total amount of air you can exhale forcefully in one breath.

The factors that affect FEV1/FVC are :

• factors include respiratory muscle strength, body mass index (BMI), coexisting medical conditions, and previous chest injury or operations.