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Educational Articles
Heterogeneity of reduced FEV1 in early adulthood: A looking forward, looking backwards analysis
April 2025
Authors: Nuria Olvera, Alvar Agusti, Judith M. Vonk, Gang Wang, Jenny Hallberg, H. Marike Boezen, Maarten van den Berge, Erik Melén, Rosa Faner
Comment by Mark Lavercombe: Lung development begins in utero and continues until maturity around the age of 20-25 years of life, after which lung function gradually declines throughout adulthood. The peak achieved lung function can have a significant effect on future symptoms and disease. In this paper, the authors evaluate data from Dutch and Swedish cohorts and demonstrate that low peak FEV1 is associated with Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry in two-thirds of participants, and airflow limitation in around one third. In the Swedish cohort it was possible to predict at ages 6-16 which participants would have lower peak FEV1 at age 24. This important finding has implications for future health promotion strategies aimed at increasing peak lung function.
Medical Education Editor for Respirology
Dr Mark Lavercombe was appointed in this specialist editor role in 2021 to further expand and strengthen Respirology’s contribution to medical education.
Located in Melbourne, Australia, he works as a clinician in respiratory health and sleep disorders at Western Health and is affiliated with The University of Melbourne as a distinguished expert in medical education.
He became a member of our Editorial Board in 2016 with the responsibility of selecting new Respirology publications with educational value, which has grown into a curated article selection featured on this page, as a benefit to APSR members.
Dr Lavercombe also authors a column in Respirology on his most recent choices and their specific value to continued medical education for our readers around the world.
