Relationship between the lung function and anthropometric measures and indexes in adolescents from Córdoba, Argentina.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to determine the degrees of association between the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) with four anthropometric variables: height, sitting height, surface, and body volume, and two somatometrics indexes: Body Mass Index (BMI) and Cormic index, and to confront the values of FVC obtained with the predicted ones by the method of Polgar.


METHODS
One sample of 54 boys and 31 girls was selected. All of them were 11-18 years of age, and were students of the National School of Monserrat (Cordoba, Argentina). The FVC was determined through computerized spirometer and the data were analyzed applying General Linear Models. The values of FVC were confronted with the predicted ones by the method of Polgar.


RESULTS
The results indicate the existence of direct relation, with different values from the regression coefficient, between the FVC and the somatometrics variables, with statistically significant differences between sexes. The association of the FVC with the sitting height and the Cormic index demonstrates an increased differential based on sex. The values obtained from FVC in women, similar to those predicted by the method of Polgar; do not occur in masculine sex.


CONCLUSIONS
we emphasize the observed intersexual difference when we used the Cormic index and sitting height for predicting the FVC; in contrast with the BMI, which has little explanatory power for the FVC. Finally, we also want to emphasize the necessity of counting on local reference tables for spirometric values.
Bajo
Juan Manuel
JM
Cátedra de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. juanmabajo@gmail.com.ar
Mangeaud
Arnaldo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity