Spirometric function improves in the morbidly obese after 1-year post-surgery.
BACKGROUND
Obesity can negatively affect pulmonary function tests, with or without clinical symptoms, but the impact of bariatric weight loss is still debated. Aiming to document such profile in a consecutive homogeneous population, a prospective cohort study was undertaken.


METHODS
Sixty-one patients (100% females, age 40 +/- 8 years, BMI 49 +/- 5 kg/m(2) and without respiratory disease) were enrolled. Spirometric analysis was carried out to compare preoperative respiratory pattern with outcome after 6 and 12 months. Variables included vital capacity (VC), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), forced expiratory volume (1 s) (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV). Correlation of results with weight loss was examined.


RESULTS
The following initial variables exhibited significant difference when compared to the 12-month postoperative control: FVC (P = 0.0308), FEV1/FVC (P = 0.1998), MVV (P = 0.0004) and ERV (P = 0.2124). Recovery of FVC and FEV1/FVC occurred earlier by 6 months. The most seriously depressed preoperative finding was ERV, which even after 1 year still remained inadequate.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Pulmonary limitations were diagnosed in approximately one third of the population. (2) Changes were demonstrated for FVC, FEV1/FVC, ERV and MVV. (3) FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were acceptable due to the absence of an obstructive pattern. (4) Two variables increased by 6 months (FEV1/FVC and ERV), whereas recovery for others was confirmed after 1 year. (5) The only exception was ERV which continued below the acceptable range.
de Souza
Shirley Aparecida Fabris
SA
Department of Physical Therapy, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. shirleysouza@uel.br
Faintuch
Joel
J
Cecconello
Ivan
I
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005105:Expiratory Reserve Volume; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity