Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 24, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Effects of body weight and posture on pulmonary functions in asthmatic children
Ghobrial Emad Emil1, El Baz Mohamed Saad1, Abdel Fattah Mohammed1
1Department of Pediatrics, Kasr Al Ainy School of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo.
Insights
In asthmatic children, body weight impacts spirometry results, particularly when sitting. Overweight or obese children showed lower FEV1/FVC ratios, suggesting posture may affect pulmonary function test outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Clinical Medicine
- Respiratory Health
Background:
- Asthma is a prevalent global chronic respiratory condition.
- Pulmonary function tests (spirometry) are crucial for monitoring asthma.
- The influence of body weight and posture on spirometry in asthmatics requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess spirometric measurements in standing versus sitting positions.
- To evaluate these measurements in Egyptian asthmatic children across different body weight categories.
Main Methods:
- Sixty stable asthmatic children were enrolled from a pediatric allergy clinic.
- Spirometry was performed in a pulmonary function laboratory.
- Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple comparison test.
Main Results:
- Sitting FEV1/FVC ratios were significantly lower in overweight/obese asthmatic children compared to normal-weight peers (p=0.046).
- No significant effect of weight was observed on standing spirometric data.
- A significant negative correlation was found between body weight and asthma control levels.
Conclusions:
- Body weight may influence spirometry results in asthmatic children, particularly in the sitting position.
- Standing spirometry data showed no weight-related impact.
- Overweight/obese asthmatic children may require consideration of posture during spirometry.
Background:
Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the world. Pulmonary function tests are important tools in monitoring of asthmatic patients. There is need for investigating if spirometric indices were affected by body weight or posture or not.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the spirometric measurements in standing and sitting positions in a group of Egyptian asthmatic children with different body weights.
Methods:
Sixty patients were included. They were stable asthmatics and were following up in the allergy clinic. Spirometry was conducted at pulmonary functions laboratory of Pediatric Allergy and Chest Unit of New Children's University Hospital, Cairo. The one-way analysis of variance was used to test the differences between groups. The Duncan multiple comparison test was used to test the significant differences between each pair of groups.
Results:
The study found that sitting FEV1/FVC is significantly lower in overweight/obese asthmatic children compared to normal weight asthmatic children (p value=0.046).
Conclusion:
There was no effect of weight on standing spirometric data. Weight showed significant negative correlation with asthma control level. We concluded that in overweight/obese asthmatic children, spirometric position might affect the results.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
01:25Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary Function Tests are crucial diagnostic tools for assessing respiratory function, particularly in patients with chronic respiratory disorders. They comprehensively evaluate lung volumes, ventilatory function, breathing mechanics, diffusion, and gas exchange. These tests help diagnose pulmonary diseases and play a significant role in monitoring disease progression, evaluating disability, and assessing response to therapy.
PFTs involve using a spirometer, a...
01:24Pressure Relationships in Thoracic Cavity
Breathing Mechanisms
Both intra-alveolar and intrapleural pressures rely on specific lung properties. The ability to breathe—allowing air to enter the lungs...
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:24Factors Affecting Respiration
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include: