US EPA

3099993 

Journal Article 

Is the MVV:FEV1 Ratio Useful for Assessing Spirometry Validity? 

Harber, P; Soohoo, K; Tashkin, DP 

1985 

Yes 

Chest
ISSN: 0012-3692
EISSN: 1931-3543 

NIOSH/00169388 

88 

1 

52-57 

An industrial male population consisting of 445 asbestos (1332214) exposed workers was compared to a clinical male population, with a subject age range of 22 to 77 years (average age 56 years), to determine whether the ratio of maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) to forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) ratio was a useful parameter for assessing respiratory disability and to investigate the manner in which this ratio was affected by the administration of aerosol bronchodilators. Both the average ratio and its variability were examined. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that the age of the patients, severity of the functional abnormality and the administration of aerosol bronchodilators had no significant effects on the MVV1 ratio. Three methods for obtaining a ratio were used, and no significant differences were found among them. Furthermore, it was established that the variability of the ratio was such that it could not be used to determine the reliability of individual results, although the value of the average ratio for large population samples could be of use for assessing the performance of spirometry laboratories. The variability of the ratio in the clinical population sample was similar to that of the industrial group, while the ratio itself was the same as the ratio recorded in the most comparable industrial population subset. The authors conclude that these findings agree with the assessment of the American Thoracic Society which does not recommend the general use of the maximal voluntary ventilation for assessing the condition of individuals. 

DCN-157240; Pulmonary function tests; Diagnostic tests; Occupational health; Age factors; Disabled workers; Analytical methods; Pulmonary system disorders; Physiopathology; 1332-21-4