Abstract

Background: Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) include a group of tests that measure breathing and functionality of lungs. PFT variables are affected by height, weight age, gender, environmental factors, and smoking.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study is to measure the respiratory fitness of medical college workers and to evaluate effect of gender, basal surface area (BSA), body mass index (BMI), and smoking on lung functions in workers of medical college.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on total 50 (29 males and 221 females) subjects in the age group of 18–40 years of medical college workers in Ahmedabad. The subjects were selected randomly for this study. Dynamic lung functions such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory flow (25–75%), and maximum voluntary ventilation were measured by Computerized spirometer (Spiro excel 1.1, Medcaid, India). The data were analyzed by the help of statistical software medical and computer software.

Results: Out of 50 subjects 29 (58%) were males and 21 (42%) were females. Mean age of study subject was 26.34 ± 7.31, mean height of study subject was 161.44 ± 9.48, and mean weight of study subject was 59.52 ± 12.62. Mean BSA was 162.16 ± 0.19 and mean BMI was 22.74 ± 4.19. Out of total 50 subjects, 76% subjects were non-smokers and not having habit of tobacco chewing while 8% were smokers and 14% of study subjects having habit of tobacco chewing. Our results showed lower values of PFT parameters than standard inbuilt predicted values of inbuilt software (KAMAT formula). The values of PFT parameters were higher in males compared to females. In smokers value of FEV1/FVC was less than non-smokers. All the PFT parameters showed positive correlation with BSA. BMI shows negative correlation with PFTs.

Conclusion: The respiratory strength of male workers was higher than female workers as their volume of lungs and body circumference is more than females. The respiratory muscle endurance and pulmonary compliance is also more in males than females.

Key words: Basal Surface Area; Body Mass Index; Smoking; Dynamic Lung Functions; Spirometer