Factors affecting early adult lung function

Abstract

Context: The risk of COPD during aging is determined by peak lung function attained during early adulthood, which in turn is affected by life course exposures. These factors therefore merit study.

Methods: Lung function measurements comprising FVC, FEV₁ (%pred) and R₅, X₅ (indicators of airway resistance and inertance) in 312 healthy participants of the Pune Maternal Nutrition Cohort, aged 19-23 yrs., were modelled against environmental, anthropometric, dietary and cardio-metabolic markers in both F₀ and F₁ generations.

Results: Adult forced vital capacity (%predicted) was positively associated with higher waist circumference and better nutrition in terms of protein intake. A higher head circumference to chest circumference ratio predicted poorer FVC (% predicted). Forced expiratory volume (%predicted) was additionally negatively associated with maternal BMI. Small airway resistance (R5) was positively associated with weight and indoor air pollution and negatively associated with high antioxidant intake, whereas lung capacitance (X5) was negatively associated with participant and maternal pre-pregnancy waist circumference (p<0.001).

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Conclusion: Unlike the west, where obesity is a major risk for poor lung function, under-nutrition and consequent central obesity characteristic in the population, may be driving low lung function in Indians.

^{**1. F0 – Mothers recruited into PMNS, 2. F1 Children of PMNS mothers,3. Forced Vital Capacity,4. Forced Expiratory volume (1st second)}