FEV6 and FEV1/FEV6 in Japanese Participants of the Community-Based Annual Health Check: The Takahata Study

Hiroyuki Kishi; Yoko Shibata; Daisuke Osaka; Shuichi Abe; Sumito Inoue; Yoshikane Tokairin; Akira Igarashi; Keiko Yamauchi; Tomomi Kimura; Michiko Sato; Yasuko Aida; Tetsu Watanabe; Tsuneo Konta; Sumio Kawata; Takeo Kato; Isao Kubota

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4276

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

FEV₆ and FEV₁/FEV₆ in Japanese Participants of the Community-Based Annual Health Check: The Takahata Study

Hiroyuki Kishi, Yoko Shibata, Daisuke Osaka, Shuichi Abe, Sumito Inoue, Yoshikane Tokairin, Akira Igarashi, Keiko Yamauchi, Tomomi Kimura, Michiko Sato, Yasuko Aida, Tetsu Watanabe, Tsuneo Konta, Sumio Kawata, Takeo Kato, Isao Kubota

Author information

Hiroyuki Kishi
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Yoko Shibata
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Daisuke Osaka
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Shuichi Abe
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Sumito Inoue
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Yoshikane Tokairin
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Akira Igarashi
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Keiko Yamauchi
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Tomomi Kimura
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Michiko Sato
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Yasuko Aida
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Tetsu Watanabe
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Tsuneo Konta
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Sumio Kawata
Department of Gastroenterology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Takeo Kato
Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
Isao Kubota
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan

Keywords: pulmonary function test, airflow limitation, cigarette smoking, FEV₆, community-based health check, epidemiology

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2011 Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 87-93

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4276

Details

Abstract

Background Forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV₆) is becoming a substitute of forced vital capacity (FVC). However, the Japanese predictive equation for FEV₆ has not been established, and the validity for the use of FEV₁/FEV₆ for diagnosing airflow limitation in Japanese has not been confirmed.
Methods Subjects aged 40 or older, who had participated in a community-based health check in Takahata, Japan, from 2004 through 2005, were enrolled. The smoking histories of these subjects were investigated using a self-reporting questionnaire. FVC, FEV₁, and FEV₆ were measured using spirometric machines. Predictive equations of FEV₆ were obtained from never-smoking subjects without history of pulmonary diseases by multiple linear regression assay.
Results FEV₆ and FEV₁/FEV₆ were significantly correlated with FVC (r=0.998, p<0.001) and FEV₁/FVC (r=0.989, p<0.001), respectively. The cutoff values of percent predicted (%) FEV₆ and FEV₁/FEV₆ for discrimination of having the restrictive lung disorder determined by %FVC <0.8 and having the airflow limitation determined by FEV₁/FVC <0.7 were 0.80 and 0.72, respectively (%FEV₆: sensitivity=0.995, specificity=0.983, positive predictive value <PPV>=0.832, negative predictive value <NPV>=1.000; FEV₁/FEV₆: sensitivity=0.942; specificity=0.971; PPV=0.787; NPV=0.993). When the 5th percentile the lower limit of normal values was used as criterion for discrimination of having airflow limitation, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of FEV₁/FEV₆ were 0.932, 0.985, 0.808, and 0.995, respectively.
Conclusion The results of the present study suggest that %FEV₆ and FEV₁/FEV₆ are excellent substitutes for %FVC and FEV₁/FVC, respectively. We confirmed the validity of the use of FEV₆ and FEV₁/FEV₆ for identifying pulmonary diseases in Japanese individuals.

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