Prediction of vital capacity by BMI and tidal volume in healthy teens.

Abstract

Vital Capacity is an essential mirror of a person's respiratory health that can be measured through spirometer. Objectives: To analyze the relation of Body Mass Index (BMI) and Tidal Volume (TV) on Vital capacity (VC) in healthy young adults and also to observe any gender differences in this regard. Study Design: An analytical cross sectional research. Setting: Using convenience sampling on First year MBBS students of Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore. Period: From May 2017 to November 2017. Material and Methods: Thirty healthy participants with fifteen males and fifteen females, aged 20-22 years were taken in the study after their consent, all were not involved in any endurance training or body-building activity. All of them were the First year MBBS students of Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore. Weight and height of each student was measured via Adult weighing scaleto calculate BMI. Tidal volume and vital capacity were measured through “Power Lab 2005-07, Model 26T” linked to a spirometer pod. Multivariate regression analysis was done by Microsoft excel. Results: Linear regression analysis depicted insignificant statistical correlation between VC and BMI in both genders (p> 0.05). However, the regression model between VC and TV showed a decrease of 1.14 units in VC with 1 unit increase in TV in male students. Conclusion: BMI and TV both negligibly affect the vital capacity in both genders, however Vital capacity is somewhat reduced in healthy males with rise in TV.