Bronchodilator response in healthy subjects

Abstract

Background: The ATS/ERS Task Force (Eur Respir J 2005; 26:948-968) recommends an increase of both 12% and 200 mL in FEV1 or FVC to define a positive bronchodilator (+BD) response. These criteria are based largely on expert opinion. We aimed to describe the BD response response characteristics of the COPDGene non-smoking, healthy cohort.

Methods: We evaluated 422 non-smoking, healthy adult patients with acceptable and repeatable spirograms obtained before and after (pre- and post-BD) two inhalations of albuterol (200 mcg) at 21 COPDGene sites. The same equipment (ndd, Zucih, Switzerland) and methodologies were used at each site. We determeined the mean, SD and 95^th percentile for absolute (mL) and percent (%) differences between pre-BD and post-BD for FEV1, FVC and FEV6. We also determined the number of subjects that met current ATS/ERS Task Force recommendations for +BD response.

Results: The mean, SD and 95^th percentile for absolute and percent differences between pre-BD and post-BD mean are shown (Table). The percent of subjects that met ATS/ERS Task Force recommendations for +BD response for FEV1 was 5.7% and for FVC was 5.2%.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that in a healthy adult population, a significant BD response for FEV1 is approximately 200 mL and 9%; corresponding values for FVC are 200 mL and 6%. Our results are in agreement with the ATS/ERS Task Force recommendation for an absolute increase in FEV1 and FVC (200 mL) to define a +BD response but suggest that the 12% increase criteria for FEV1 and FVC is too large.