Abstract
Background: Obesity is a serious nutritional problem in the world and a source of multiple co-morbid conditions in metabolic and cardiopulmonary disorders. It offers mechanical obstruction to the movements of the body and the respiratory system. Further, it is hypothesized that the lung functions can be reduced to varying extents in obese hypertensive and obese normotensive subjects compared to normal subjects in the same age group.

Aims & Objective: The present work is undertaken to study the effect of obesity and hypertension on the pulmonary functions.

Materials and Methods: By using a computerized spirometer, the pulmonary functions FVC, FEV1 and PEF were evaluated in 20 obese normotensive subjects (BMI of 33.04 ± 2.42) and 20 obese hypertensive subjects (BMI of 32.89 ± 2.58) & 20 normal (BMI of 22.39 ± 1.65) male subjects in the age group of 40 to 60 years. Spirometry was performed by the subject in sitting posture. Trails were given for the subject to familiarize with the equipment, then they were asked to perform 3 trails and best of the three readings were computed for analysis.

Results: The percentage of predicted value of FVC, FEV1 and PEF in normal subjects were 94.82 ± 13.07; 96.62 ± 15.19; 91.49 ± 23.21 and the corresponding values for obese normotensive subjects were 84.45 ± 15.75; 89.35 ± 16.48; 81.14 ± 20.54 and in obese hypertensive subjects were 76.60 ± 13.38; 78.65 ± 17.62; 71.09 ± 19.29 respectively.

Conclusion: There was a significant decline in FVC, FEV1 and PEF in obese normotensive & obese hypertensive subjects when compared to normal individuals. Further, the extent of decline was greater in obese hypertensive when compared to obese normotensive subjects. It can be concluded that obesity and hypertension will have an adverse impact on pulmonary functions.

Key words: Pulmonary Function; Obesity; Hypertension