Influence of body mass on predicted values of static hyperinflation in COPD

For interpretation of body plethysmographic static hyperinflation, reference values are of crucial importance. Earliest reference values have been published by the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and are based on sex, body height and age as predictors. As obesity can lead to a reduction of functional residual capacity (FRC) in lung-healthy subjects, more recent approaches included body weight or body surface area. This raises the question whether these models are appropriate in patients with COPD-induced hyperinflation. Several FRC prediction models and their relation to body weight were analyzed in 1513 patients with stable COPD (mean [SD] age: 64.5 [8.2] years; GOLD grades 1-4: 219/722/484/88), a subset of the multicenter COPD and Systemic Consequences - Comorbidities Network cohort. Absolute values of FRC were inversely related to body mass index (