NCLEX Chronic Illness Practice Questions Related

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Spirometry is used to determine the severity of COPD and to monitor disease progression. This test measures

  • A. The ratio of volume of air the patient can forcibly exhale in 1 second and forced vital capacity.
  • B. The ratio of residual volume when patient has fully exhaled and forced vital capacity.
  • C. The ratio of forced vital capacity and volume of air the patient can forcibly exhale in 6 seconds.
  • D. The ratio of respiratory effort and respiratory rate.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Spirometry is the gold standard for COPD diagnosis and staging, measuring airflow obstruction. The ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) to forced vital capacity (FVC) FEV₁/FVC quantifies limitation; a value <0.7 post-bronchodilator confirms COPD, with FEV₁ percentage grading severity (e.g., GOLD stages). Residual volume (RV) to FVC isn't standard in basic spirometry RV requires advanced testing (e.g., plethysmography) and reflects air trapping, not routine staging. FVC versus a 6-second exhale (FEV₆) approximates in some settings but isn't the clinical norm for COPD. Respiratory effort and rate aren't spirometric; they're observational. FEV₁/FVC's precision, per Deravin and Anderson (2019), tracks obstruction progression and guides therapy, making it foundational for assessing COPD's irreversible nature.