ABSTRACT
Background: Pregnancy has marked effect on pulmonary functions and capacities. The knowledge of the expected changes in pulmonary parameters is fundamental to understanding how the disease states affect pregnancy and vice versa
Objectives: this study was designed to determine the changes in pulmonary functions during pregnancy
Patients and Methods: This was prospective study, conducted from 1[st] January 2008 to 30[th] November, 2008, in the Department of Physiology, Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar kha. A total of 80 study subjects were included in this study, divided into 4 groups, with each group having 20 study participants. The groups were as; 1[st] group having non pregnant females in their mid-luteal phase, 2[nd] group having females in their 1[s]t trimester of pregnancy, 3[rd] group having females in 2[nd] trimester of pregnancy, 4[th] group having females in their 3[rd] trimester of pregnancy. A questionnaire in which data regarding name, age, parity, duration of gestation was used
Results: A total of 80 study subjects were included in this study. Overall mean age was 25 +/- 3.5 years. 1[st] group was having age of 21+/- 2 years, 2[nd] group was having mean age of 26 +/- 4 years, 3[rd] group having mean age of 27+/- 4 years, whereas, 4[th] group was having mean age of 24+/-3.2 years. All the females were house wives, except controls, who were students. 71% of the study subjects were uneducated. We found out significant decrease in FEV[1] [P=0.000], FVC [P=0.002], and FEV[1]/FVC[P=0.014] in all three groups of pregnant women as compared to non-pregnant
Conclusion: The respiratory system undergoes anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy and there is a significant decrease in FEV[1], FVC and FEV[1]/FVC among pregnant women