The cut-off for a positive Area Between Curves score in the diagnosis of occupational asthma from serial FEV1 meaasurements is 0.056litres/hr

This paper extends the Area Between Curve analysis of serial lung function measurements in the diagnosis of occupational asthma from PEF to FEV1, and establishes the difference required to make a secure diagnosis of occupational effect at 0.056 litres/hour. Some favour FEV1 measurements to comply with quality requirements for spirometry, however they are more difficult to obtain and do not provide better quality diagnoses than the measurement of PEF.

References

	Parkes ED, Moore VC, Walters GI, Burge PS, Diagnosis of occupational asthma from serial measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) using the Area Between Curves (ABC) score from the Oasys plotter, Occup Environ Med, 2020;77:801-805,doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2019-106351

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