ABSTRACT
Objectives: Overweight and obesity are known to cause various patterns of alteration to the pulmonary function test [PFT] parameters. We sought to investigate gender differences in PFT parameters and examine the relationship between body mass index [BMI] and PFT parameters
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 126 patients referred for a PFT by various medical specialties between January and December 2015. PFT was measured using spirometry, and BMI was calculated using Quetelet's index
Results: Female patients exhibited lower mean values for all PFT parameters compared to male patients. The forced vital capacity [FVC] % predicted was less than 80% for all patients while the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]/FVC was higher with increased BMI. BMI was positively correlated with peak expiratory flow in all patients, and with FEV1/FVC ratio in males but not in females
Conclusions: In our studied population, males exhibited higher mean values of PFT parameters than females. Increased BMI may be associated with a restrictive pattern on spirometry