Subjects with Discordant Airways Obstruction: Lost between Spirometric Definitions of COPD

Table 3

Severity of airways obstruction in concordant and discordant obstructive cases.

Severity of airways obstruction	Concordant obstructive cases^§ (𝑛=192)	Discordant obstructive cases^#(𝑛=112)	𝑃-value
Possible normal variant (FEV1 >100% predicted)	22 (11.4%)	31 (27.7%)	<.001
Mild obstruction (FEV1 70%–100% predicted)	115 (59.9%)	69 (61.6%)	<.001
Moderate obstruction (FEV1 50%–70% predicted)	41 (21.4%)	12 (10.7%)	.003
Severe obstruction (FEV1 < 50% predicted)	14 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	/

^§Concordant obstructive cases: FEV1/FVC < 0.70 & <LLN.
^#Discordant obstructive cases: FEV1/FVC < 0.70 & ≥LLN.