Abstract:
Spirometry is widely used to assess the lung function in clinical practice. We examine age related
trends of lung functions and the independent effects anthropometric parameters on lung function
in a group of community dwelling adult females. Using Bope Poddala electoral register, age
stratified random sample of450 women above 30 years of age were invited. Then, 343 attended
but spirometry using a portable spirometer was performed in 238 women only. Peak expiratory
flow rate (PEFR), forced vital capacity (FVC) and the forced expiratory volume in first second
(FEV,) were assessed. Body weight, height and skin fold thickness (SFT) was measured in the
non-dominant side; over anterior superior iliac spine and mid-triceps. Women were grouped
according to age decades (ranged 30.3- 82.6 years) for comparison. The mean (SD) lung function
measurements for 30-39 age group were FVC=2.39 (0.46)L, FEV, =2.04 (0.4)L/lst sec,
PEFR=351(70)LS‘‘ and older groups had lower figures and the oldest group (70 or above) had 38-
52% lower figures. All other measured variables among the age groups were also significantly
different (p<0.001). In simple regression FVC, FEV, and PEFR were negatively correlated to age
(r=-0.52 to -0.66, p<0.001) and positive correlated to height (r=0.38 to 0.51, p<0.001), weight
(r=0.36 to 0.48, p<0.001) BMI (r=0.17, p<0.01 to r=0.36 p<0.001) and SFT (r=0.23, p<0.01 to
r=0.41, p<0.001). In multiple regression only age (Beta=-0.23 to -0.48 p<0.001) and height (Beta
=0.12 to 0.27, p<0.05 &<0.001), showed a significant correlation with all 3 respiratory parameters.
Weight correlated only with PEFR (Beta =0.30 (P<0.01). In this community based study of lung
function assessment, we conclude that the lung function in healthy women depends on age and
height but not on skin fold thickness and weight.
