Should we be using statistics to define disease?

Editorial

David M Mannino. Thorax. 2008 Dec.

. 2008 Dec;63(12):1031-2.

doi: 10.1136/thx.2008.100081.

No abstract available

Comment on

Underestimation of airflow obstruction among young adults using FEV1/FVC <70% as a fixed cut-off: a longitudinal evaluation of clinical and functional outcomes.
Cerveri I, Corsico AG, Accordini S, Niniano R, Ansaldo E, Antó JM, Künzli N, Janson C, Sunyer J, Jarvis D, Svanes C, Gislason T, Heinrich J, Schouten JP, Wjst M, Burney P, de Marco R. Cerveri I, et al. Thorax. 2008 Dec;63(12):1040-5. doi: 10.1136/thx.2008.095554. Epub 2008 May 20. Thorax. 2008. PMID: 18492741
Using the lower limit of normal for the FEV1/FVC ratio reduces the misclassification of airway obstruction.
Swanney MP, Ruppel G, Enright PL, Pedersen OF, Crapo RO, Miller MR, Jensen RL, Falaschetti E, Schouten JP, Hankinson JL, Stocks J, Quanjer PH. Swanney MP, et al. Thorax. 2008 Dec;63(12):1046-51. doi: 10.1136/thx.2008.098483. Epub 2008 Sep 11. Thorax. 2008. PMID: 18786983