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The Impact of Various Anthropometric Measurements of Obesity on Pulmonary Function in Candidates for Surgery

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Abstract

Background

Obesity has proven to be associated with respiratory symptoms and impaired pulmonary function, which could increase the incidence of postoperative complications after bariatric surgery. However, the component of obesity that has the most influence on pulmonary function has not been identified, especially in Asian-Pacific populations.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled obese Chinese patients ≥18 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) >32 kg/m2, who were being evaluated for bariatric surgery. All patients performed pulmonary function test, and the results were analyzed according to various anthropometric measurements. Multiple-regression analyses were also conducted and adjusted for age, sex, and smoking history to determine the factors that impaired the pulmonary function of the obese patients.

Results

A total of 150 consecutive patients were enrolled from July 2007 to August 2008. We found that body weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, and waist-to-height ratio but not waist-to-hip ratio had a significant correlation with decreased forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), total lung capacity (TLC), vital capacity (VC), and increased diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide to alveolar gas volume. After multiple linear regression analysis, only WC was associated with reductions in FEV1, FVC, TLC, and VC.

Conclusions

Obesity is associated with a restrictive pattern of impaired pulmonary function in various anthropometric parameters measured in obese Chinese adults in Taiwan. Among these parameters, WC had the greatest impact on pulmonary function, which could also implicate the rate of postoperative complication and the need of more intensive care after bariatric surgery.

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Abbreviations

ATS:

American Thoracic Society

BMI:

Body mass index

BW:

Body weight

DLCO:

Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide

DLCO/VA:

DLCO to alveolar gas volume

ERV:

Expiratory reserve volume

FEV1:

Forced expiratory volume in the first second

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

HC:

Hip circumference

IC:

Inspiratory capacity

PFT:

Pulmonary function test

RV:

Residual volume

TLC:

Total lung capacity

VC:

Vital capacity

WC:

Waist circumference

WHR:

Waist-to-hip ratio

WHtR:

Waist-to-height ratio

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Disclosure

None of the contributing authors have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, #1, Yi-Da Road, Jiau-shu Tsuen, Yan-chau Shiang, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan

    Yu-Feng Wei, Chi-Yang Chang, Chi-Ming Tai & Wei-Kung Tseng

  2. Department of Surgery, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan

    Chih-Kun Huang & Chao-Ming Hung

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Huey-Dong Wu & Chau-Chung Wu

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  1. Yu-Feng Wei
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  2. Huey-Dong Wu
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Correspondence to Wei-Kung Tseng.

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Wei, YF., Wu, HD., Chang, CY. et al. The Impact of Various Anthropometric Measurements of Obesity on Pulmonary Function in Candidates for Surgery. OBES SURG 20, 589–594 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-009-9961-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-009-9961-0

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