Improvement in lung function and functional capacity in morbidly obese women subjected to bariatric surgery

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To determine whether weight loss in women with morbid obesity subjected to bariatric surgery alters lung function, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity and the level of habitual physical activity and to investigate the relationship between these variables and changes in both body composition and anthropometrics.METHODS:Twenty-four women with morbid obesity were evaluated with regard to lung function, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity, body composition, anthropometrics and the level of habitual physical activity two weeks prior to and six months after bariatric surgery.RESULTS:Regarding lung function, mean increases of 160 mL in slow vital capacity, 550 mL in expiratory reserve volume, 290 mL in forced vital capacity and 250 mL in forced expiratory volume in the first second as well as a mean reduction of 490 mL in inspiratory capacity were found. Respiratory muscle strength increased by a mean of 10 cmH2O of maximum inspiratory pressure, and a 72-meter longer distance on the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test demonstrated that functional capacity also improved. Significant changes also occurred in anthropometric variables and body composition but not in the level of physical activity detected using the Baecke questionnaire, indicating that the participants remained sedentary. Moreover, correlations were found between the percentages of lean and fat mass and both inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes.CONCLUSION:The present data suggest that changes in body composition and anthropometric variables exerted a direct influence on functional capacity and lung function in the women analyzed but exerted no influence on sedentarism, even after accentuated weight loss following bariatric surgery.

Obesity as a predictor for a poor prognosis of COVID-19: A systematic review

“…Moreover, chronic inflammation in obesity is apparent with the increased interleukin 6 (IL-6) level, adipokines, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-a, inferferon), inducing a chronic low-grade inflammatory state in obesity and impairing immune response [12,13,19]. The total lung capacity has also been reported to be reduced in obese patients, and improved by bariatric surgery [22,23]. Moreover, a study by Campos et al also emphasised the impact of obesity to reduce lung function in sedentary subjects [23].…”

“…The total lung capacity has also been reported to be reduced in obese patients, and improved by bariatric surgery [22,23]. Moreover, a study by Campos et al also emphasised the impact of obesity to reduce lung function in sedentary subjects [23]. Hence, obese patients tend to be more susceptible to COVID-19 infection and rapid severe disease progression due to its lower baseline lung functional capacity than normoweight people.…”

Pulmonary Function in Obese individuals

“…Twenty-four women with morbid obesity were evaluated by Campos EC et al [11] with regard to lung function, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity, body composition, anthropometrics and the level of habitual physical activity two weeks before and six months after bariatric surgery. It was found that body composition and anthropometric variables exerted a direct influence on functional capacity and lung function in the women analyzed but exerted no influence on sedentary life style, even after accentuated weight loss following bariatric surgery.…”

"Is Inspiratory Muscle Strength Altered in Women with Obesity? Comparative Analysis and Predictive Equations"

“…According to Magnani and Cataneo [7], obese individuals have respiratory muscle dysfunction due to the changes that occur in the lungs, thoracic wall and diaphragm, which alter the respiratory mechanics and exert a negative impact on the gas exchange. These changes are believed to overload the respiratory muscles, increasing the mechanical work involved in respiration [6][7][8][9][10][11]. The evaluation of respiratory muscle strength, which is measured by maximum expiratory and inspiratory pressures, has been used since the 1960s [12] due to its important diagnostic role in lung conditions, such as chronic…”