EFFECT OF BODY MASS INDEX ON PULMONARY FUNCTION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE OF NORTH INDIA

Abstract

Background: Obesity significantly affects lung function which has been reported among children, adolescents and adult age groups. However, there is limited research on effect of obesity on pulmonary function among elderly age group.Methods:In this study 600 elderly people aged 65 years and above were selected from rural areas of Haryana in whom lung function parameters including force expiratory volume in first second (FEV1),force vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was estimated and categorised into underweight, normal, overweight and obese categories as per BMI classification of Asian Indians. Mean and standard deviations were calculated and association between lung function parameters and body mass index was determined by one way ANOVA test. Results: Mean age of subjects was 68 ± 5.2 years. Among all the three parameters, highest mean values were observed among subjects with normal body mass index, whereas lowest mean FVC and FEV1/FVC values were observed in underweight category and lowest mean FEV1 values in obese individuals. A statistically significant difference in the mean FEV1 and FEV1/FVC values were observed between various body mass index categories. Conclusion: Body mass index has significant impact on lung function of elderly people depicted by reduction in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC values in obese individuals