Chart 2
Mean FEV₁/FVC ratio by age group and sex – description

This is a line chart that illustrates the ratio of the Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV₁) to the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), by sex for a series of age groups.

Each sex is represented by a line.

The Y axis shows the ratio and increases in increments of 0.050 from 0.650 to 0.900.

The X axis from left to right shows data for the following age groups: 6 to 11, 12 to 19, 20 to 39, 40 to 59 and 60 to 79.

The ratio of FEV₁ to FVC expresses the fraction of air that was exhaled in the first second of a FVC manoeuvre. This ratio is markedly age dependant, decreasing with age. Females have greater FEV₁/FVC ratios then males at all ages except in the 40 to 59 age group.

Source: Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2007 to 2009