Waist circumference and pulmonary function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Fernando César Wehrmeister1, Ana Maria Baptista Menezes, Ludmila Correa Muniz
1Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro 1160, 3º Piso, Pelotas, RS, CEP 96020-220, Brazil. fcwehrmeister@yahoo.com.br
Systematic Reviews
|November 17, 2012
Summary
Central obesity, measured by waist circumference (WC), is linked to reduced pulmonary function, especially in men. Further research in diverse populations, including children, is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Public Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Central obesity is a known health risk factor.
- Limited research exists on the association between waist circumference (WC) and pulmonary function.
- This study aims to systematically review the existing literature on this relationship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the association between waist circumference and pulmonary function.
- To quantify the pooled effect of WC on key pulmonary function parameters.
- To identify factors contributing to heterogeneity in the observed associations.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to December 2011.
- Inclusion of published, in-press, and online documents.
- Meta-analysis to determine the overall effect and meta-regression to explore heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- Ten studies were included in the final analysis.
- A significant inverse relationship was found between WC and pulmonary function parameters (FEV1 and FVC).
- The inverse association was more pronounced in men than in women, with sex being a major contributor to heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Waist circumference is inversely associated with pulmonary function, particularly in men.
- Further population-based studies, especially in pediatric and adolescent groups, are needed to validate these findings.
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