Prevalence and Impact of Food Insecurity in Patients Undergoing Pulmonary Function Testing: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pulmonology
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Food insecurity (FI), defined as inconsistent access to adequate food, affects a significant portion of US households and is linked to various chronic diseases.
• Limited research has explored the connection between food insecurity and lung health.
• This study investigates the association between FI and respiratory health in adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if food insecurity (FI) is associated with pulmonary function.
• To assess if FI correlates with the burden of respiratory symptoms in adults undergoing pulmonary function testing (PFT).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 10,805 adults undergoing PFT between March 2018 and January 2023.
• Food insecurity was assessed using a validated 2-item questionnaire.
• Pulmonary function (FEV1, FVC) and respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, COPD Assessment Test) were measured; multivariable models adjusted for covariates.

Main Results:

• 17.8% of participants reported food insecurity (FI).
• FI was associated with lower percent predicted FEV1 (-2.55%) and FVC (-1.04%), and increased odds of moderate to severe dyspnea (OR, 1.97).
• Among patients with COPD and asthma, FI was linked to higher symptom burden and more frequent moderate to severe dyspnea.

Conclusions:

• Food insecurity (FI) is associated with diminished pulmonary function and increased respiratory symptoms in individuals undergoing PFT.
• These findings underscore the role of FI as a social determinant impacting respiratory health.
• Further research is warranted to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop interventions to address FI's effect on lung health.