ABSTRACT
Objectives To explore the status and characteristics of changes in lung function in the elderly in communities of Beijing,and to provide reference for improving the prevention and control of chronic lung disease in the elderly.Methods A stratified,segmented and cluster sampling method was used to investigate 1 144 subjects aged 60 years and over in communities of Beijing (Huairou District,Daxing District rural area and Xicheng District).Health status and pulmonary function were assessed,and characteristics of lung functions and their changes were analyzed in the elderly.Results The average vital capacity(VC)was 2.53L,and forced vital capacity(FVC) was 2.29 L,forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)was 1.81 L,1 second rate (FEV1/FVC) was 83.42 ％.Static vital capacity was decreased in 1/3 of the elderly,and dynamic vital capacity,including FVC and FEV1,was reduced in about half of the elderly.Ratio of decline in lung function in the elderly was higher in male and in urban area than in women and in rural areas.Ratio of decline in each index of pulmonary ventilation function showed a significantly increased tendency along with the ageing.Lung dysfunction types in the elderly included a restricted (23.5％)and obstructive ventilation disorder (19.7％)and mixed ventilation disorder(12.8％).Conclusions The ratio of decline in lung function in the elderly is increased along with aging,and more significantly higher in female and in urban than in male and in countryside.Restrictive ventilation disorder in the elderly is more often in urban areas,while obstructive ventilation disorder occurs mostly in rural areas.Corresponding measures should be adopted for different groups of people.