Publication:

Effects of metabolic syndrome on pulmonary function tests

Background Metabolic syndrome is defined as at least three of the five following medical conditions: central obesity(mandatory), high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high serum triglycerides, and low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It has been shown that obesity causes physiological impairment in respiratory system.

Methods In this observational cross sectional study, 60 patients who fulfilled the IDF criteria for metabolic syndrome were included after applying the exclusion criteria and were subjected to spirometry.

Results Most of the patients had a restrictive pattern (43.3%) (n=26). 33.3% (n=20) of the patients had a mixed pattern while 16.7% (n=10) of the patients had a normal picture. Only 6.7% (n=4) of the patients had an obstructive pattern (p<0.001). Mean value of FEV1 had no correlation with increasing number of components of metabolic syndrome whereas mean value of FVC showed a decreasing trend with increasing number of components of metabolic syndrome. Mean FEV1 of the patients was significantly higher in males (1.82±0.71 L) than females (1.24±0.42 L) (p 0.007). Similarly, the mean FVC was significantly higher in males as compared to females. Mean FVC was 2.45 (±0.86) L in males while females had a mean FVC of 1.65 (±0.49) L (p 0.002).

Conclusions In conclusion, Patients with metabolic syndrome have significant impairment of the pulmonary function with restrictive pattern being the most common one.