Pulmonary functions of the elderly Indian subjects: trends of decline with age.

Respiratory Functions mainly vital capacity, FEV1, MBC and breath holding time, of 400 healthy elderly persons, 328 men and 72 women, aged 60+, sedentary and belonging to upper middle class from Bombay were studied. The findings are examined in each sex in 5 yearly age groups and are obviously low. An attempt is made to link the age-wise averages of VC in younger subjects in India reported by other workers with our data on elderly. The values from Northern groups are comparatively much higher than those from the rest of India. The connecting link in graphs shows a sudden fall when the data of northern Indians and that of our elderly are joined, but it is smooth when those of rest of India are connected.