title: Relation between body composition, abdominal obesity, and lung function.
abstract: Reference values of spirometry and diffusion capacity are usually adjusted for age, sex, height and ethnic origin. However, also other factors, mainly weight and body composition, have an effect on pulmonary function. Therefore, we examined how body composition and abdominal obesity are related to lung function in normal population and whether they should be taken into account in the reference values. Two hundred and eighty-four healthy Finnish non-smoking adults were included in the study. Height, waist circumference, abdominal sagittal diameter and body composition were measured, and spirometry and diffusion capacity (DLCO) were performed. Muscle mass (r = 0.29, P = 0.000) and lean body mass (r = 0.29, P = 0.000) correlated positively with DLCO. However, no significant correlation between body composition and spirometry results was observed. Abdominal sagittal diameter (r = -0.21, P = 0.000) and waist circumference (r = -0.22, P = 0.000) correlated inversely with the forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC). In our study population, subjects with higher muscle and lean body mass had higher DLCO. This indicates a need for future re-evaluation of reference values. Besides, already minor abdominal obesity is associated with obstructive changes in spirometry results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and Neurophysiology, Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 1777, Fin-70211 Kuopio, Finland. epekkari@student.uef.fi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pekkarinen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vanninen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Länsimies
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kokkarinen
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Timonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D012016:Reference Values; D013147:Spirometry / Q000592:standards; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult