Comparision of peak expiratory flow rate and total body fat among the south Indian children aged around 6 to 10 years Sudha D*, Sr. Resident, Selvi E Chandra, Sr. Resident, P Saikumar, Prof & Head Department of Physiology, Sree Balaji Medical College & Hospital, Bharath University, Chennai *Corresponding author email: sudhasuresh76@yahoomail.com
Online published on 6 April, 2013. Abstract Background Many studies have proven the relation between the nutritional habit and respiratory functions in south Indian children. The increase in respiratory problems due to increase in Total Body Fat (TBF) in children has been a major worldwide problem. Deposition of fat over the chest wall alters the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) among pulmonary function test parameters. Among all the pulmonary function test parameters Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) directly indicates the nutritional status which is also an easy and non invasive method for estimating the lung function in children. Aim To assess the effect of Total Body Fat (TBF) on PEFR in children aged 6 to 10 years of both the sexes. Method We recruited 258 children aged 6 to 10 years of both sexes for our study. The anthropometric parameters including height, weight, BMI and TBF were measured. PEFR was measured using the Peak Expiratory Flow Meter. The skin fold thickness was measured by using Digital skin fold caliper. The results were statistically analyzed by using Pearson Correlation coefficient test and ANOVA. Results In our study as age progresses the height of the children in both sexes also increases. Our results showed positive correlation between height, BMI, SFT and TBF with PEFR. Conclusion We concluded that among the factors determine the nutritional status including BMI and SFT effect of TBF on PEFR play an important role in the maintenance of normal pulmonary functions in children. Thus our study proved that the reason for the respiratory problem may be due to abnormal TBF. Top Keywords Peak expiratory flow rate, Body mass index, Skin fold thickness, Total Body Fat. Top |