Obesity and Pulmonary Function in African Americans
Alem Mehari1, Samina Afreen2, Julius Ngwa2
1Howard University, Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Plos One
|October 22, 2015
Summary
Obesity significantly impacts lung function in African American adults, particularly affecting functional residual capacity and expiratory reserve volume. These changes, even below morbid obesity, are crucial for interpreting pulmonary function tests.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Cardiorespiratory Physiology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Obesity prevalence exceeds 30% in US adults, disproportionately affecting Black populations.
- Obesity is linked to respiratory complaints and altered lung function, necessitating pulmonary function tests (PFTs).
- Limited large-scale studies examine Body Mass Index (BMI) effects on PFTs in healthy African Americans (AA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of BMI on PFTs in African American adults without pre-existing respiratory conditions.
- To establish baseline lung function parameters in relation to varying BMI levels within this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of PFTs from 339 individuals with a wide BMI range.
- Inclusion criteria: normal spirometry and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO).
Main Results:
- Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) and Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) decreased exponentially with increasing BMI.
- Morbid obesity correlated with breathing near Residual Volume (RV).
- Total Lung Capacity (TLC) and RV showed modest changes; DLCO had an inverse linear relationship with BMI, but remained within normal ranges.
Conclusions:
- BMI significantly affects lung function in AA adults, with notable impacts on FRC and ERV even at BMI < 30 kg/m2.
- Physiological effects of weight gain on lung function should be considered during PFT interpretation, even without disease.
- These findings may help explain respiratory symptoms and potentially exacerbate existing lung conditions.
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