Abstract

Background: Several evidences are available for altered pulmonary function (PF) with increasing body fat as measured by body mass index (BMI). However, consequences of obesity on PF have been reported to vary depending on its severity and pattern. Objectives: To study the effect of increasing body fat (measured by BMI) on the pattern of PF. 2
Materials and Methods: A total of 120 subjects of either sex were studied having BMI ≥30 kg/m in the Department of Medicine, GR Medical College, Gwalior, from July 2013 to November 2014. Anthropometric and spirometric parameters were measured using a computerized spirometer. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20 and expressed as either mean ± standard deviation or percentage.
Results: Out of 120 subjects, most of them belong to age group of 41-60 years 2 (55%), were female (52.5%) and had BMI between 30 and 35 kg/m (73.33%). The most common PF test (PFT) pattern was restrictive (30.83%). Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%), forced vital capacity (FVC%), and FEV1/FVC ratio among patients with BMI 30-35 (n = 76), was 78.3 ± 16.3, 77.9 ± 14.5, and 105.6 ± 7.8; with BMI 36-40 (n = 21) was 2 78.5 ± 21.1, 78.5 ± 19.2, and 105.6 ± 8.2; and with BMI 41-45 kg/m (n = 3) was 65.2 ± 18.3, 68.6 ± 16.7, and 99.9 ± 5.7, respectively.
Conclusions: Increase in BMI leads to increase in abnormal PFT parameters. Early detection can reduce the abnormal PFT values in obese subject.