CORRELATION BETWEEN BODY MASS INDEX AND FEV1 IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition marked by persistent symptoms and irreversible airflow limitation. It remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with Pakistan reporting one of the highest prevalence rates in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Body Mass Index (BMI) has been identified as a potential modifier of disease severity and prognosis in COPD. However, local data on the correlation between BMI and lung function, particularly forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), remains limited.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted over three months at the Pulmonology Unit, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. A total of 76 patients aged 40–80 years diagnosed with COPD were enrolled using consecutive non-probability sampling. Patients with asthma, acute exacerbation, or comorbid chronic illnesses causing weight loss were excluded. Demographic and clinical data including age, gender, BMI, smoking history, duration of illness, and spirometry results were collected. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between BMI and FEV₁. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0.

RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 62.4 ± 8.6 years, with 73.7% being male. The mean BMI was 24.3 ± 4.2 kg/m², and the average FEV₁ was 51.7 ± 14.8% of predicted. A moderate positive correlation was observed between BMI and FEV₁ (r = 0.42, p = 0.0003), indicating that lower BMI was associated with reduced lung function. FEV₁ also declined significantly with increasing age (p = 0.018), longer smoking duration (p = 0.005), and longer disease duration (p = 0.008). Gender did not show a statistically significant effect on FEV₁ (p = 0.372).

CONCLUSION: A significant positive correlation was found between BMI and FEV₁ in COPD patients, suggesting that lower BMI may be linked to more severe airflow obstruction. These findings highlight the importance of nutritional assessment and support as part of comprehensive COPD management strategies, particularly in resource-limited settings.