ABSTRACT
We have studied Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) namely Vital Capacity (VC). Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and Forced Expiratory Volume in First Second (FEV1). Forced Expiratory Flow(FEF 25-50%) in 1200 elderly subjects above 60 years of age of which 570 were females and 630 males. Mean age was 69.22 +/- 5.57 years in males and 68.77 +/- 5.44 in females. The mean value of ventilatory parameters were as follows-1) VC 2.99 +/- 0.5 lt in males and 1.89 +/- 0.29 lt in females. 2) FVC 2.69 +/- 0.58 lt. in males and 1.76 +/- 0.21 lt in females. 3) FEV1/FVC% 83.82 +/- 10.62% in males and 83.37 +/- 11.93% in females. 4) FEF 25-75% was 2.81 +/- 1.20 lt/sec in males and 2.13 +/- 1.27 lt/sec. Physical as well as ventilatory parameters were less in females than for males. The correlation of age with VC and FEV1 was highly significant (P < 0.01) but with FVC was not significant (P > 0.05). The correlation of height, weight and body surface area was not significant with any ventilatory parameter (P > 0.05). Multiple regression equations for VC, FVC and FEV1 were formulated for males and females taking height and age as variables. The predicted values correlated excellently with observed values.