Pulmonary ventilatory functions and obesity in Kuwait

ABSTRACT

To study the relationship between obesity and pulmonary ventilatory functions in Kuwaiti adults. 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[FEV[1]], forced vital capacity [FVC], FEV[1] as a percentage of FVC [FEV%]; body mass index [BMI in kg/m[2]] and waist-to-hip ratio [W/H]. For the whole group, males or females, BMI [kg.m[2]] 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 FEV[1] 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, R[2] >0.06] associated with increasing restrictive respiratory impairment [8.7-14.4% decrease in FEN[1] And 8-11.7% decrease in FVC], with no evidence of obstructive disease [FEV[1]/FVC >0.8]. 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