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The effects of passive smoking on the six-minute walk test in obese pediatric cases
Nazan Kaymaz1, Şule Yıldırım, Mustafa Tekin
1Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Çanakkale, Turkey. E-ma-il: sule.yildirim@comu.edu.tr.
Insights
Second-hand smoke exposure significantly reduced the six-minute walk test (6 MWT) distance in obese children. This finding highlights potential respiratory and cardiovascular risks in this vulnerable pediatric population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Environmental Health
- Cardiopulmonary Function
Background:
- Obese children face increased risk of reduced cardiopulmonary function.
- Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a significant health concern for children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of second-hand smoke exposure on the six-minute walk test (6 MWT) in obese, non-asthmatic children.
- To assess the association between passive smoking and exercise capacity in pediatric obesity.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-five obese pediatric patients (BMI >95th percentile) without comorbidities were enrolled.
- Participants were categorized into groups based on parental-reported passive smoking exposure.
- The six-minute walk test (6 MWT) and spirometry were performed on all subjects.
Main Results:
- Children exposed to passive smoking (Group 1) walked a mean of 501.88 ± 62.12 meters.
- Children not exposed to passive smoking (Group 2) walked a mean of 559.63 ± 72.93 meters.
- A statistically significant difference (p=0.001) was observed in 6 MWT distance between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Passive smoking negatively impacts respiratory and cardiovascular capacity in obese children.
- The 6 MWT is a valuable tool for monitoring cardiopulmonary function in these pediatric patients.
- Educating families about the risks of passive smoking is crucial for protecting children's health.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to second-hand smoke affected the six-minute walk test (6 MWT) of obese non-asthmatic pediatric cases.
Methods:
Obese pediatric patients (body mass index >95th p) with no existing co-morbidities were included in the study. Smoke exposure was assessed with a self-reported questionnaire completed by the parents. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisting of obese children exposed to passive smoking and Group 2 of obese children not exposed to passive smoking. In addition to 6 MWT, spirometric flow and volume, including forced expiratory volume in 1 s and peak expiratory flow rate, were also measured in all subjects. The results of the 6 MWT were assessed to determine any association with passive smoking.
Results:
The study included 75 obese pediatric cases (40 male, 35 female) with a mean age of 9.06 ± 0.97 years. The 6 MWT results in Group 1 was 501.88 ± 62.12 meters and in Group 2 559.63 ± 72.93 meters. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
Passive smoking may negatively affect the respiratory and cardiovascular capacity in obese children, who are already at risk of lower cardiopulmonary function. The evaluation of 6 MWT in these pediatric patients may be useful for monitoring and families should be warned about potential problems due to smoking.
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