Association between body roundness index and lung function among U.S. adults

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology and Public Health
• Anthropometry and Body Composition Analysis
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Obesity is a growing public health concern linked to declining lung function.
• Body Roundness Index (BRI) offers a more accurate measure of body fat than Body Mass Index (BMI).
• Understanding the relationship between BRI and lung function is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between Body Roundness Index (BRI) and lung function.
• To compare the predictive performance of BRI versus BMI for lung function decline.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 12,061 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
• Employed multiple linear regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.
• Conducted subgroup analyses to identify specific populations at higher risk.

Main Results:

• A significant inverse relationship was found between BRI and lung function measures (FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF 25-75%).
• RCS analysis revealed a non-linear pattern, with lung function declining sharply after a certain BRI threshold.
• BRI demonstrated superior predictive performance for reduced lung function compared to BMI, particularly for large airway indicators.

Conclusions:

• Elevated BRI is independently associated with lower lung function, especially in high-risk groups.
• BRI can serve as a valuable tool for early detection of individuals at risk of impaired lung function.
• Continuous BRI monitoring is essential for timely intervention and mitigating lung function decline.