COMPARISON OF PULMONARY FUNCTION BETWEEN OBESE AND UNDERWEIGHT ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH DIABETES
Abstract
Background: Pulmonary function can be significantly affected by both nutritional status and chronic conditions such as diabetes, particularly in the elderly. However, the extent to which body composition influences lung function among diabetic elderly individuals remains underexplored.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the differences in pulmonary function between obese and underweight elderly individuals with diabetes and to determine whether body composition, diabetes duration, and other demographic factors influence specific Spiro metric parameters.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 100 elderly diabetic participants, comprising 50 obese and 50 underweight individuals. Data on demographic characteristics, type and duration of diabetes, and Spiro metric values including Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁) were collected. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data using SPSS.
Results: Significant differences were found in pulmonary function between the two groups. Obese participants showed higher mean values for FVC (2.25 ± 0.30 L) and FEV₁ (1.92 ± 0.27 L) compared to their underweight counterparts (FVC = 1.74 ± 0.28 L, FEV₁ = 1.45 ± 0.25 L), with p-values < 0.001. Regression analysis revealed that BMI was a significant positive predictor of FVC (p = 0.000), while duration of diabetes was a negative predictor (p = 0.005). Additionally, age and gender were found to have a significant effect on pulmonary function.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that body composition significantly affects pulmonary function among elderly individuals with diabetes. Obesity appears to be associated with better Spiro metric performance compared to underweight status. These results underscore the importance of nutritional and clinical interventions tailored to body composition in managing respiratory health in elderly diabetic populations.
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