Education＆ScienceEducational Article

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.