Question

A patient complaining of shortness of breath with exercise has the following pre/post bronchodilator results. Which is the most meaningful indicator that a bronchodilator is effective?

1) Increased FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second)
2) Decreased FVC (Forced Vital Capacity)
3) Decreased FEV1/FVC ratio
4) Decreased peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)

Answer 1

An increased FEV1 is the most meaningful indicator of bronchodilator effectiveness, as it signifies improved airway function and ability to exhale more air within one second.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most meaningful indicator that a bronchodilator is effective for a patient complaining of shortness of breath with exercise would be an increased FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second). This is because FEV1 measures how much air can be forcefully exhaled from the lungs in one second, which is a critical aspect of assessing bronchial obstruction and response to treatment. An increase in FEV1 after using a bronchodilator signals that the airway obstruction has diminished, allowing the patient to exhale more air within one second. The other options, such as decreased FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), decreased FEV1/FVC ratio, and decreased peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), are not indicative of improved airway function post-bronchodilator.