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A decreased FEV1/FVC ratio is commonly observed in obstructive lung disease. This condition leads to a narrowing of the airways, which significantly impacts the patient's ability to exhale air quickly. The FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second) is reduced due to this obstruction, while the FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) may remain relatively normal or decrease to a lesser extent, resulting in a lower ratio.

Conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma exemplify obstructive lung diseases, where the flow of air is impeded primarily during expiration. In these scenarios, it is essential to measure the FEV1/FVC ratio as a diagnostic tool to assess the severity of the obstruction and direct appropriate management.

In contrast, restrictive lung diseases, interstitial lung diseases, or conditions such as sleep apnea typically do not display a decreased FEV1/FVC ratio. Instead, these conditions may present with a normal or increased ratio because both FEV1 and FVC are reduced proportionally due to the inability to expand the lung fully or the stiffness of lung tissue. Understanding these concepts is crucial for the interpretation of pulmonary function test results and for distinguishing between different types of lung diseases.