I had my latest pulmonary function test last week and I’m very scared. Please, Dr. Mannino and the rest of this kind group, please help me interpret my numbers below. My residual volume is improved as is my DLCO, but my FEV1 dropped 4%. Also, my FVC/FEV1 ratio has been dropping 1 percent every year. I am so grateful if anyone can please help me to figure out what all of this means.
FEV1: lost 4% lung function in one year
2021: 105%
2022: 105%
2023: 105%
2024: 101%
FVC/FEV1 Ratio:
2021: 85%
2022: 83%
2023: 82%
2024: 81%
FVC: Forced Vital Capacity
2021: 103%
2022: 104%
2023: 106%
2024: 102%
RV-Residual Volume: dropping
2021: 121%
2022: 119%
2023: 116%
2024: 111%
DLCO: improved to 96% (was 90%)
2021: 90%
2022: 91%
2023: 90%
2024: 96%
RV/TLC ratio:
2021: 39 (ref. 34)
2022: 38 (ref. 35)
2023: 38 (ref. 35)
2024: 38 (ref. 35)
DLCO/VA:
2021: 102%
2022: 103%
2023: 102%
2024: 104%
TLC- Total Lung Capacity:
2021: 5.55 ~ 109%
2022: 5.58 ~ 110%
2023: 5.53 ~ 109%
2024: 5.32 ~ 105%