Relationship between supernormal lung function and long-term risk of hospitalisations and mortality: a population-based cohort study

Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are major contributors to global deaths [1]. Although low lung function is a risk factor for early death, like hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia [2], evaluation of lung function in primary care is not prioritised as highly as blood pressure or cholesterol measurements [3]. Also, public health authorities have remained silent on major health challenges other than smoking relevant for development and preservation of normal lung function from birth to old age. It is now increasingly evident that low lung function in childhood may affect general health throughout life [4–8]. It therefore seems likely that improvement of lung function on a population-scale may be associated with lower morbidity and mortality. We therefore tested the hypothesis that supernormal lung function is associated with lower morbidity and mortality. Supernormal lung function is associated with fewer cardiovascular and respiratory events and a survival benefit independent from major risk factors