Pulmonary function in young females of Kolkata, India – Revisited

Abstract

Rapid economic and industrial growths imposed significant impact on human health including the pulmonary health. Questions were raised regarding the validity of the existing prediction norms of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in a particular population. The present study was conducted to investigate the applicability of the existing norms for PFTs in young healthy non-smoking female university students of Kolkata, India. Significant difference was noted in vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) when the present data were compared with the earlier study in similar population. Correlation statistic revealed significant relationship of age and body height with all the PFT parameters. Body mass had significant correlation with VC, FVC, FEV 1 as a percentage of FVC (FEV 1% ), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Regression equations have been computed for predicting PFTs from age and body height. There has been a change of PFTs in the studied population for the last couple of decades due to increased environmental pollution in the course of economical and industrial developments. Regression equations computed in this study are not only recommended to predict PFT parameters in the studied population, but they are also considered more reliable owing to their substantially smaller standard error of estimate than those proposed in the previous study.

Effects of Cigarettes Smoking on Pulmonary Function among University Students

“…It is important that the preceding inspiration is fast and any pause at full inspiration be minimal (i.e., only for 1 -2 seconds). The test assumes a full inhalation before beginning the forced exhalation, and it is imperative that the subject takes a complete inhalation before beginning the maneuver [7]. Table 1 shows the pulmonary function parameters investigated in this study with definition.…”

“…(1) Table 1 The definitions of forced expiratory (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced vital capacity (FVC) [7].…”

“…The degradation of lung function and the severity of respiratory disease can be identified by pulmonary function tests (PFTs) [7][8][9]. PFTs is a tools to measure the volumes of air during individual inhalation or exhalation process.…”

“…However, in the last five decades, the anthropometric data of young adults have changed significantly owing to factors such as increasing body height, increasing body mass index, increasing air pollution level and decreased in physical activities [7]. Therefore, new pulmonary function data regarding young people, particularly young smokers and non-smokers are needed.…”

Assessment Of Lung Function And Its Correlation With Anthropometric Measurements In Selected Population In Manipal

“…In some previous studies the investigators have shown that different factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, weight, and height, affect the pulmonary function test. (21)(22)(23)(24)(25) In another study conducted in Iran, it was also mentioned that air-borne particles also affect the pulmonary function test. (26) some studies has also shown an association of decline in lung function among individuals exposed to occupational dust particles.…”