Yes, low lung volume can be bad, especially for individuals with certain respiratory conditions.
Having a low lung volume can indicate compromised respiratory function and is associated with negative health outcomes. For example, in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a specific measurement involving lung volume is linked to increased risks:
- Increased risk: COPD patients with an inspiratory capacity/total lung capacity ratio (IC/TLC ratio) less than 25% are at increased risk for needing careful treatment monitoring.
- Hospitalization: They also face more frequent hospital admissions.
- Mortality: A low IC/TLC ratio is correlated with a higher risk of both all-cause and respiratory mortality.
Essentially, low lung volume, particularly when measured as a ratio of inspiratory capacity to total lung capacity, can signify a more severe form of COPD and predict poorer health outcomes.
