Computerised Spirometric Evaluation of Pulmonary Functions in Obese Hypertensive and Obese Non-Hypertensive Male Subjects; A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background:Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic and is associated with impaired quality of life. It is now a major health concern in our country contributing significantly to increased morbidity and mortality, reducing life expectancy markedly among adults, and is commonly associated with hypertension. It causes mechanical obstruction of various parts of the body, including the respiratory system.Materials and Methods: A Total of three hundred (300) age and sex matched subjects were selected from those attending the Executive Health Check up OPD of kannur Medical College , which included One hundred (100) normal subjects (Group 1), One hundred (100) obese normotensive subjects (Group 2), and One hundred (100) obese hypertensive subjects (Group 3). Results:In the obese normotensive group and obese hypertensive group, statistically significant decline in FVC was seen as compared to the non-obese group. But there was no significant change in FVC between the hypertensive obese and normotensive obese groups . FEV1 showed no significant difference between regular, obese normotensive and obese hypertensive groups, although the obese groups showed a small insignificant decrease. FEV₁/FVC % did not show any significant change in the three groups.  PEF did not show any significant change in the three groups.Conclusion:It can be concluded that obesity causes mechanical restriction to respiratory movements  which adversely affect pulmonary functions. Hypertension had no adverse effects on lung functions.