Original article                                                              

UDC: 616.2-036.1-072.7:613.25

doi:10.5633/amm.2011.0402

  

Influence of obesity on spirometric parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

 Miroljub Đorđević

 Special hospital for prevention, rehabilitation and treatment of nonspecific lung diseases "Sokobanja" in Sokobanja, Serbia

 

Harmful air particles emissions (heavy industry, thermal and nuclear power plants, vehicles that burn fissile fuel, professional exposure in factories and mines, consumption of cigarettes), greatly disturb the function of the respiratory system. Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and increased numbers of activated macrophages in adipose tissue. Adipose tissue provides an abundance of inflammatory mediators, suggesting a possible link between obesity and immunological developments in COPD.

The aim of the paper was to determine whether obesity has a significant effect on spirometric parameters in patients with COPD, and to determine whether weight loss caused by reduction of adipose tissue has a positive effect on improvement of spirometric parameters in patients with COPD.

The study included 190 examinees aged 35 to 65 years, of both sexes, divided into four groups: the first group recruited 40 examinees with different degrees of obesity and without verified COPD, 20 persons (group 1a) with obesity from I (BMI 30-35) to III (BMI>40) and 20 subjects (group 1b) with pre-obesity (BMI 25-30); the second group included 50 examinees who had normal nutritional status and COPD with different duration; the third group consisted of 50 examinees, who had I degree obesity (BMI 30-35) and COPD; the fourth group consisted of 50 examinees, who had II degree obesity (BMI of 35-40) and COPD with different duration.

The research lasted three years, covering the period from 2007 to 2010. The subjects were  being examineed for 180 days, and all the changes related to spirometry parameters and  body mass index (BMI) were followed up.

 Comparing the average measures and standard deviations in FEV1/ FVC between groups 4 (66,71±4,53), 2 (69,1±5,98) and 3 (70,69±5,81), there were no significant statistical differences. The values of spirometric parameters between two groups of patients with COPD were compared. The first group of patients involved subjects who in the period of 180 days had weight loss greater than 10% and second (2) group in which subjects had no significant weight loss. It was found that respondents from the first group had a statistically significant increase in the observed values of all spirometric parameters compared to another group. FVC: 4.33(1) 0.99(2); p<0, 01. FEV1: 7.38(1) 2.67(2); p<0.01. FEV1/FVC: 4,27(1) 2,14(2); p<0,05.

Obesity has no significant effect on spirometric parameters in patients with COPD. Losing weight in favor of adipose tissue reducing has a significant effect on improving the spirometric parameters in patients with COPD. Acta Medica Medianae 2011; 50(4): 11-16.

 

Key words:  obesity, influence, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), spirometric parameters, Body Mass Index (BMI)

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