Prospects of FEV6 using as alternative indicator of respiratory function assessment

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The aim of the study was to establish a correlation between the changes of external respiratory function leading indicators in patients with COPD and the presence of a positive response to the bronchodilator over an extended period of observation and the value of the FEV 6 index in assessment of bronchial obstruction reversibility. Materials and methods. The study included 29 patients with confirmed diagnosis of COPD with II and III degree of ventilation disorders according to the GOLD classification and an increase in FEV 1 more than 200 ml (12 %) when carrying out a test with a bronchodilator. With the help of the patients’ spirograms retrospective analysis over the long period of observation an evaluation and comparison of the external respiration function parameters was performed: FVC, FEV 1 and FEV 6 . Results. All patients were divided into 2 groups: group I included patients with a moderate degree of ventilation disorders severity by GOLD, group II – with severe impairment of external respiratory function. A reliable direct correlation between increments of FEV 1 and FEV 6 , FVC and FEV 6 (p < 0.05) was confirmed, which indicates a logical increase in FEV 6 increment in parallel with the increase of FVC and FEV 1 increments. When comparing the increase in FEV 1 and FEV 6 in group I it also was not noted significant differences. However, in group II FEV 6 increment is two times higher than FEV 1 increment with high probability (p < 0.05), which may be caused by the presence of more severe obstruction and longer expiration. Conclusions. It has been found a significant positive correlation of FEV 6 with FEV 1 and FVC and significant relationship between the FEV 6 and FVC increments in both study groups, between the FEV 6 and FEV 1 increments in the group with grade III ventilation disorders by GOLD classification. Thus, FEV 6 can be considered as a perspective indicator of the external respiration function evaluation, especially in patients with more severe course of the disease.