Pulmonary Ventilatory Functions and Obesity in Kuwait

Vol. 17, No. 1, 2008

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Original Paper

Pulmonary Ventilatory Functions and Obesity in Kuwait
Wafaa R. Al-Bader^a, J. Ramadan^b, A. Nasr-Eldin^{a, b}, M. Barac-Nieto^b

^aMinistry of Public Health, Hawali Health Area, Rumaythia Polyclinic, and
^bDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait

Address of Corresponding Author

Med Princ Pract 2008;17:20-26 (DOI: 10.1159/000109585)

Key Words

Pulmonary function
Body mass index
Waist-to-hip ratio
Obesity

Abstract

Objective: To study the relationship between obesity and pulmonary ventilatory functions in Kuwaiti adults. Subjects and Methods: A total of 200 male and 180 female Kuwaiti adults aged 20-65 years were investigated in six medical centers from April 2004 to March 2006. Parameters measured included forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV₁ as a percentage of FVC (FEV%); body mass index (BMI in kg/m²) and waist-to-hip ratio (W/H). Results: For the whole group, males or females, BMI (kg·m²) and W/H were poor individual predictors of pulmonary ventilatory functions. However, central adiposity (W/H) was associated with restrictive respiratory impairment (10.6-13.9% decrease in FEV₁ and 10-12.3% decrease in FVC), independent of sex, age or height. In obese females and males (BMI >30), increasing severity of obesity was significantly associated (p < 0.05, R² >0.06) associated with increasing restrictive respiratory impairment (8.7-14.4% decrease in FEV₁ and 8-11.7% decrease in FVC), with no evidence of obstructive disease (FEV₁/FVC >0.8). Conclusion: In adult Kuwaiti males and females, increase in body fat at BMI >30 or W/H >1 was associated with a restrictive effect on pulmonary ventilation.

Author Contacts

Dr. Jasem Ramadan
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine
PO Box 24923, Safat 13110 (Kuwait)
Tel. +965 531 9594, Fax +965 533 8937
E-Mail Ramadan@hsc.edu.kw

Article Information

Received: December 5, 2006
Revised: March 11, 2007
Published online: April 22, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 18

Medline Abstract (ID 18059096)

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