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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults
Published on: February 9, 2022
Frequency and causes of combined obstruction and restriction identified in pulmonary function tests in adults
Enrique Diaz-Guzman1, Kevin McCarthy, Alan Siu
1Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Background:
The frequency of combined obstruction and restriction identified in pulmonary function tests has not been well described. Moreover, although the causes of combined-obstruction-and-restriction patterns are known, the frequency of the various etiologies has received little attention.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed medical records and surveyed pulmonologists.
Results:
43,212 PFT sessions were evaluated, which yielded 130 patients who satisfied our criteria for spirometry evidence of combined obstruction and restriction. Their demographic features were: mean +/- SD age 54 +/- 14 y, 51% male, mean +/- SD body mass index 28.8 +/- 6.7 kg/m(2), mean +/- SD height 174 +/- 9 cm (men) and 162 +/- 7 cm (women). The causes of combined obstruction and restriction were classified as either a pulmonary parenchymal disorder (Group A, n = 49, 38%) or a combination of pulmonary parenchymal and non-pulmonary diseases (Group B, n = 63, 48%). In 18 patients (14%) no clear etiology of combined obstruction and restriction could be determined. The most common pulmonary disease was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (45/130, 35%), and the most common non-parenchymal disease was congestive heart failure (27/130, 21%). We electronically sent a survey to 55 pulmonary physicians, of whom 30 (55%) responded. The respondents estimated that combined obstruction and restriction occurs in approximately 20% of all the pulmonary function tests performed in their practices and that pulmonary parenchymal diseases were responsible for 35% of all instances of combined obstruction and restriction.
Conclusions:
Combined obstruction and restriction occurs infrequently and is more commonly caused by a combination of pulmonary parenchymal and non-pulmonary disorders. Pulmonologists' impressions regarding the frequency and causes are generally discordant with the observed frequencies.
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