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Is lung diffusing capacity lower in expiratory flow limited women compared to non-flow limited women during exercise?

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Women tend to have smaller lungs than men of the same size as well as narrower airways compared to men when matched for the same lung size. Additionally, women with smaller airways relative to lung size are more likely to experience expiratory flow limitation (EFL) as well as exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia (EIAH). One of the possible causes of EIAH includes excessive widening in the alveolar-to-arterial oxygen pressure difference (A-aDO2) due to diffusion limitation. This study investigated if lung diffusing capacity (D LCO) is lower in women with EFL compared to non-flow limited (NEFL) women during exercise.

Methods

D LCO was measured using the rebreathing technique at rest and at 40, 60, and 80 % of \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\text{max}}\) on a treadmill in healthy women with EFL (n = 7; 21.6 ± 2.3) and without EFL (NEFL, n = 9; 21.2 ± 2.3). Arterial oxygen saturation was measured using pulse oximetry (SpO2).

Results

There was no difference (p > 0.05) in D LCO between groups at rest or during exercise; however, SpO2 was significantly lower in the EFL females compared to NEFL females during exercise.

Conclusion

Due to the lack of differences in D LCO between women with EFL and without EFL, our results suggest that this is not a possible cause for the significant differences in SpO2 between the two groups.

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Abbreviations

A-aDO2 :

Alveolar-arterial oxygen difference

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CO:

Carbon monoxide

C18O:

Carbon monoxide isotope 18

D LCO :

Lung diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide

EIAH:

Exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia

EFL:

Expiratory flow limitation

FEF50 %:

Forced expiratory flow rate at 50 % of lung volume

FEV1.0 :

Forced expiratory volume in 1.0 s of FVC maneuver

FV:

Flow volume

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

He:

Helium

IC:

Inspiratory capacity

MEFV:

Maximal expiratory flow-volume

N2 :

Nitrogen

NEFL:

Non-expiratory flow limited

O2 :

Oxygen

PaO2 :

Arterial partial pressure of oxygen

Pst(L)50 :

Static lung recoil pressure at 50 % lung volume

Q :

Cardiac output

RPE:

Rate of perceived exertion

SpO2 :

Pulse oxygen saturation

VC :

Vital capacity

V max50 :

Maximal flow rate at 50 % of lung volume

\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\text{max}}\) :

Maximal rate of oxygen consumption per kilogram body weight

W:

Watts

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Box 5640, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA

    Kali C. Nordin, Michelle J. Lee & J. Richard Coast

  2. Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

    Craig A. Harms

Authors
  1. Kali C. Nordin
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  2. Michelle J. Lee
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  3. Craig A. Harms
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  4. J. Richard Coast
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Richard Coast.

Additional information

Communicated by David C. Poole.

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Nordin, K.C., Lee, M.J., Harms, C.A. et al. Is lung diffusing capacity lower in expiratory flow limited women compared to non-flow limited women during exercise?. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 755–761 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3053-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3053-0

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