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Association of body composition and lung function in children with cystic fibrosis

C C Pedreira1, R G D Robert, V Dalton

  • 1Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|January 26, 2005
PubMed

Insights

In children with cystic fibrosis (CF), body mass index (BMI) is strongly linked to lung function. Maintaining a healthy BMI is crucial for preserving pulmonary function in pediatric CF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Biomedical Science
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) survival has improved, with key goals including slowing lung function decline and ensuring normal growth.
  • Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is utilized to evaluate bone mineral density and body composition in pediatric CF patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between body composition and pulmonary function in children with Cystic Fibrosis.
  • To determine if body composition metrics correlate with lung function in pediatric CF patients.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty pediatric subjects with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) underwent Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for body composition analysis.
  • Lung function was assessed using spirometry, with Forced Expired Volume in 1 second percent predicted (FEV1% predicted) being a key metric.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated as weight/height² (kg/m²).

Main Results:

  • A significant positive association was found between FEV1% predicted and BMI (R=0.59, P=0.0001).
  • Fat-free mass showed a statistically significant positive correlation with pulmonary function tests (R=0.30, P=0.03).
  • While fat mass trended positively with pulmonary function, the association did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions:

  • In children with CF and mild lung disease, BMI demonstrated a stronger association with pulmonary function compared to fat and fat-free mass.
  • These findings highlight the importance of BMI as an indicator of pulmonary status in pediatric CF patients.
  • Further research may explore targeted nutritional interventions to optimize body composition and lung health in this population.

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