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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Phase-Resolved Functional Lung MRI for Pulmonary Ventilation and Perfusion (V/Q) Assessment
Published on: August 9, 2024
Prognostic value of FEV1/FEV6 in elderly people
Claudio Sorino1, Duane Sherrill, Stefano Guerra
1Department of Medicine, Pneumology, Physiology and Human Nutrition, University of Palermo, via Trabucco 180, Palermo, Italy. claudiosorino@libero.it
Background:
The ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced expiratory volume in 6 s (FEV1/FEV6) has been proposed as an alternative for FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) to diagnose obstructive diseases with less effort during spirometry; however, its prognostic value is unknown. We evaluated whether FEV1/FEV6 is a significant predictor of mortality in elderly subjects and compared its prognostic value with that of FEV1/FVC and FEV1.
Methods:
One thousand nine hundred and seventy-one subjects, aged >65 years, participated in the population-based SA.R.A. study. During the baseline exam, a multidimensional assessment included spirometry. Vital status was determined during 6 years of follow-up. Association of all-cause, cardio-pulmonary (CP) and non-CP mortality with a low FEV1/FEV6, FEV1/FVC and FEV1 was evaluated.
Results:
Among subjects with both survival data and acceptable spirometry including FEV6, all-cause unadjusted mortality rates were 7·00 and 2·46 per 100 person-years in subjects with FEV1/FEV6 less than and greater than or equal to lower limit of normal (LLN), respectively (mortality rate ratio: 2·84, 95%CI: 2·12-3·84). After adjustment for age, gender, FVC, smoke exposure and main comorbidities, the risk of all-cause mortality remained significantly increased in subjects with FEV1/FEV6
Conclusions:
A low FEV1/FEV6 is a significant predictor of mortality in older individuals. Its prognostic value is comparable to that of a low FEV1/FVC and FEV1.
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