A prospective study of pulmonary function test in obese patients

Authors

  • Pradeep Prajapati Department Medicine, G R Medical College, Gwalior, M.P., India
  • Neelima Singh Department Medicine, G R Medical College, Gwalior, M.P., India
  • Raj Kishori Prajapati Consultant, Pariwar Hospital, Gwalior, M.P., India
  • Jagat Pal Singh Department Medicine, G R Medical College, Gwalior, M.P., India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3933.ijam20160192

Keywords:

Pulmonary function test, Obese, Body mass index, Smoking

Abstract

Background: Obesity is considered to affect the respiratory functions. The objective was to study the pulmonary function test and its correlation with smoking, hypertension and diabetes in obese patients with Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2

Methods: A cross sectional study was done on 100 patients with age >18 years and Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 in the Department of Medicine, GR Medical College, Gwalior during the period between July 2013 to November 2014. After thorough history and clinical examination of all the selected patients, they were subjected to routine investigation and spirometry (Pulmonary function test). Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) was performed by using UNI-EM spirometer.

Results: Out of 100 patients, 37% were in the age group of 41-50 years followed by 27% in 31-40 years and there was a female predominance (53%). Abnormal PFT was found in 58% patients, out of which the commonest pattern was restrictive (32%) followed by mixed pattern (26%). Among females with abnormal PFT restrictive and mixed type pattern were seen in 32% and 18.9% respectively whereas among males 32% and 34% had restrictive and mixed pattern of abnormal PFT respectively. It was found that abnormal PFT pattern was directly proportional to increase in BMI. The mean Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) was 77.76 ± 15.56 L, mean Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) was 77.97 ± 17.40 L while mean FEV1/FVC ratio was 105.44 ± 7.85 in the study population. Most common PFT pattern seen in smokers was mixed type (55%). Among hypertensive patients 42.1% had normal PFT.

Conclusions: More than half of obese patients were having abnormal PFT in our study, and the increase in BMI was associated with increase in abnormal PFT pattern. The most common abnormal function was restrictive pattern as reflected by decreased mean FVC, FEV1 and increased FEV1/FVC ratio. There was no correlation between hypertension and pulmonary function test in obese; similarly no correlation was seen between diabetes and PFT in obese. 

References

Borys JM, Valdeyron L, Levy E, Vinck J, Edell D, Walter L, et al. EPODE - A model for reducing the incidence of obesity and weight-related comorbidities. US Endocrinol, 2013;9(1):32-6.

World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight, 2015. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/. Accessed 25 August 2015.

Devershetty J, Metta S, Uppala S, Kamble G. Effect of obesity on pulmonary function tests in apparently healthy young women. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2015;4(11):1-4.

Rezk MHM, Khashaba AS. Effect of obesity on the pulmonary functions of the adolescents. Basic Sci Med. 2015;4(2):28-30.

Jeelani M, Ahmed MM. Pulmonary function test in relation to abdominal obesity in adult males in age group of 18-21 years in and around Raichur city. J Evidence Based Med Healthcare. 2015;2(18):2746-51.

Chen Y, Rennie D, Cormier YF, Dosman J. Waist circumference is associated with pulmonary function in normal-weight, overweight, and obese subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007; 85:35-9.

Schoenberg JB, Beck GJ, Bouhuys A. Growth and decay pulmonary function in health black and whites. Respire Physiol. 1978;33:367-93.

Porhomayon J, Papadakos P, Singh A, Nader ND. Alteration in respiratory physiology in obesity for anesthesia-critical care physician. HSR Proc Intensive Care Cardiovasc Anesth. 2011;3(2):109-18.

Morgan WKC, Ahamad D. Obesity and lung function. Thorax. 2001;56:740-1.

Somani SS, Mane SB, Handergulle SM. Forced vital capacity in obese female. Indian Med Gazette. 2014;CXLVII(6):206-8.

Downloads

Published

2017-01-05

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles