Eckerström F, et al. - Researchers performed this study among adult patients with a congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) and healthy age- and gender-matched controls, to gain an insight into the evolvement of the pulmonary dysfunction in the aging VSD patient. The participants underwent static and dynamic spirometry, impulse oscillometry, multiple breath washout, and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide testing. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second was the primary outcome. Lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second, lower forced vital capacity, and lower peak expiratory flow were detected in surgically corrected VSD patients vs healthy matched controls. Overall, VSD patients 40 years of age or older exhibited significantly impaired pulmonary function, including reduced dynamic pulmonary function, increased airway resistance in the small airways, and reduced diffusion capacity up to 54 years following defect closure vs healthy age- and gender-matched controls.