Prognostic significance of surrogate measures for forced vital capacity in an elderly population.

Objectives To evaluate whether measures easier to obtain than the FVC can substitute it as a prognostic marker in elderly people. Design Prospective, observational study. Setting Community. Participants Outpatients (n = 1485) aged 73.4 years (SD: 6.2 range 65–98) enrolled in the Salute Respiratoria nell'Anziano (SaRA) study. Measurements We calculated the risk for mortality associated with a reduction below 80% of the predicted FVC, of the forced expiratory volume at 6 seconds (FEV6), and of a surrogate measure for forced vital capacity (SFVC), defined as the largest volume exhaled in 2 forced maneuvers regardless of its duration and of the presence of plateau. Results Among the 907 partici…