Vitacca et al. (A-51) conducted a study to determine whether the supine position or sitting position worsens static, forced expiratory flows and measurements of lung mechanics. Subjects were aged persons living in a nursing home who were clinically stable and without clinical evidence of cardiorespiratory diseases. Among the data collected were the following FEV1 percent values for subjects in sitting and supine postures:
Sitting Supine Sitting Supine 64 56 103 94 44 37 109 92 44 39 99 99 40 43 169 165 32 32 73 66 70 61 95 94 82 58 99 99 74 48 73 58 91 63 Source: Data provided courtesy of Dr. M. Vitacca.