Association of body weight on pulmonary function tests in young individuals (aged 18- 40 years)- A cross-sectional study

Abstract

This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted to evaluate association of waist, hip and thigh circumferences on respiratory parameters among young healthy adults. A total of 180 volunteers of different weight categories; including underweight, normal weight, over weight and obese people were recruited by using non-probability convenient sampling technique. Non-smoker males and females (non-pregnant), aged between 18-40 years with no pulmonary and cardiac disease were included in the study. Waist circumference, mid-thigh circumference, hip circumference and respiratory parameters were measured. The results showed a significant association between waist circumference with forced vital capacity (FVC) (r = 0.188, p = 0.011), average tidal volume (VT) (r = 0.160, p = 0.032), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) (r = 0.388,p<0.001), vital capacity (VC) (r = 0.312, p<0.001), total lung capacity (TLC) (r = 0.385, p<0.001), and functional residual capacity (FRC) (r = 0.477, p<0.01), and a negative association with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (r = -0.148, p = 0.048) and FEV1/FVC ratio (r = -0.246, p<0.001). Significant association was not observed between waist circumference and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) (r = 0.071, p = 0.344). In the present study, increased waist, hip, and thigh circumferences were found to be negatively associated with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio. Spirometry should be performed in obese and overweight young healthy adults even if they are asymptomatic, as early preventive measures can be taken to reduce the resulting morbidity.

Keywords

• anthropometry, spirometry, obesity, healthy adults