FEV1
Medical abbreviation · Respiratory
| Stands for | Forced expiratory volume in 1 second |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
FEV1 stands for Forced expiratory volume in 1 second, a respiratory abbreviation.
Volume of air a person can forcefully exhale in the first second after a full breath in, the most important single number from spirometry. It is expressed in liters and as a percentage of the predicted value for age, sex and height.
Example: FEV1 1.2 L (41% predicted), down from 1.5 L last year; GOLD grade 3 airflow limitation.
Usage notes
COPD severity is graded by post-bronchodilator FEV1: GOLD 1 at 80 percent predicted or more, 2 at 50 to 79, 3 at 30 to 49 and 4 below 30. A rise of more than 10 percent of the predicted value after a bronchodilator signals reversibility under the 2022 interpretation standard. FEV1 also predicts overall mortality and is used to time referral for lung transplantation. Pronounced "F-E-V-one."
Related abbreviations
More respiratory abbreviations
- DIB – Difficulty in breathing
- DLCO – Diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide
- EBUS – Endobronchial ultrasound
- EIB – Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
- ESS – Epworth Sleepiness Scale
- FeNO – Fractional exhaled nitric oxide
- FEV1/FVC – Ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity
- FiO2 – Fraction of inspired oxygen
- FRC – Functional residual capacity
- FVC – Forced vital capacity
- GGO – Ground-glass opacity
- GINA – Global Initiative for Asthma
See all 109 respiratory abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.