Resolved question:
Hi,
I have conducted a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) and have got the results. I have the same in a PDF format. I would like an analysis of the report.
My details are as under
Name: Pradeep Eledath
Age: 46 years
Residing in : New Delhi, India
Height: 5 feet 10 Inches
Weight: 82 Kg
Non smoker, 2 drinks 60 ml each per week
I have a past history of seasonal bronchitis, which usually crops up during change of seasons, summer to winters and vice-versa and some other triggers. Otherwise i am pretty normal.
I use Asthalin Inhaler (in emergency) and Sero-Flo 250 (in case i predict an impending attack). But both are not used as a practice as im usually fine.
Otherwise i run every alternate days (3 to 4 km) and on weekends (8 to 10 km) comfortably.
How would you rate my lung state (Good / Average / bad). I got this test done as part of my Life Insurance policy. My insurance company has suggested a 50% hike in premium based on this report.
My clear question here is, is my condition so serious that the Insurance company has suggested such a drastic hike in premium. Physically i do not face any such issues, so whats the condition clinically?
Regards
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Pulmonologist
Hello. Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
I understand your concern.
Regarding the acceptability criteria of pft-it should be done to a maximum of 8 times till you get 3 graphs each within 100 ml difference, each being done without coughing for at least 6 seconds and a post test to be done 20 mind after 4 puff Asthalin. Unfortunately none of the criteria is met. So I won't bother to read further into that report.
However for a doc who is not familiar to PFT and goes only according to a printed report, I Do confess, that the report is alarming . The report is showing moderate to severe asthma. Hence the confusion. I suggest to repeat a proper PFT.
Regards,
Dr. Jacob George P
MD, FCCP
Dear Dr. Jacob,
Thank you for your prompt response. Can you pse explain the following
1. What are the parameters in my report that show moderate to severe asthma, and when my conditon physically is fine why is my clinical condition showing up so bad. This is impacting my health and life insurance policies.
2. Is there any other test that a Pulmonogist can do to accertain my condition that i can suggest to my insurance company. Im not sure if any health or life insurance company would like to do 8 odd tests to confirm my clinical condition.
Regards
Pradeep
Hello. Thank you for writing to us again.
I think you did not get me correctly. befor taking out a print of the lung function and handing it over to a patient, it has to be examined whether its done properly. unfortunately, this test is highly dependent on patient effort. so at a single visit, -
• After 3 acceptable spirograms been obtained with the two largest FVC within 150 ml of each other and Are the two largest FEV1 within 150 ml of each other
we can conclude the test.
•If both of these criteria are not met, continue testing until
Both of the criteria are met with analysis of additional acceptable spirograms;
OR
a total of eight tests have been performed and patient is exhausted and becomes hostile !!!
So you have better go there, practise it again, and repeat it, but keep repeating till you get your result! :-)
its not a joke, but the alarming result of your PFT can be changed, if you are asymptomatic, healthy as you claim .
in your PFT - the amount of air you can blow out in total, and the amount of air you blew out at the end of 1 second ( FVC, and FeV1) are both low. Usually FVC should be atleast 70% of predicted, while yours is only 47% of predicted. similarly the FEV1 - the air you can forcefully expel is only 54.49 of what is expected. both theoretically show your lungs are shrunken to a moderate degree(upper limit to call it severe). But the truth is that you did not perform the test for 6 seconds,you did for only 1.21 sec. So you blew out air of only 1.21 sec and computer thought that you blew for 6 secs.! As for the computer, you couldnt blow out air for 6 secs because of disease, while in reality you didnt do it because you didnt know how you were to do the test.
similarly your fev1/ fvc is 79% which shows your lungs are severely shrunken, and you cant walk probably 5 stairs in a breath!!
you can ask your pulmonologist to do an exhaled nitric oxide test to know level of disease control, however still you would still require a pft for insurance reasons.
Hope i cleared your doubts. Feel free to discuss further,
regards
Dr. JACOB GEORGE P
MD, FCCP