The impact of obesity on specific airway resistance and conductance among schoolchildren

• Published in: Archivos argentinos de pediatría Vol. 116; no. 2; p. e227
• Main Authors: Parraguez Arévalo, Andrea, Rojas Navarro, Francisco, Ruz Céspedes, Macarena, Medina González, Paul, Escobar Cabello, Máximo, Muñoz Cofré, Rodrigo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Argentina 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Airway Resistance; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Pediatric Obesity - physiopathology; Obesity; Airway resistance
• ISSN: 0325-0075; 1668-3501; 1668-3501
• DOI: 10.5546/aap.2018.eng.e227

Child and adolescent obesity is an epidemiological problem in developing countries. Its prevalence among preschoolers and schoolchildren is over 30%. It has been associated with a wide range of health complications, including rapid loss of lung function leading to changes in physiology and ventilatory mechanics. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between obesity and the increase in specific airway resistance (sRaw) in a sample of obese children and adolescents from the district of Talca. In a sample of 36 subjects with an average age of 9.38 ± 1.99 years, divided into 2 groups (normal weight and obese), the tricipital, subscapular, and abdominal skinfolds and lung volumes were measured. For the statistical analysis, data normality was determined and then the Student's t test or the Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson's or Spearman's correlations were used, as applicable. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. When comparing normal weight and obese subjects, a significant increase in sRaw and a significant reduction in specific airway conductance (sGaw) were observed in obese subjects. In addition, an adequate and significant correlation was observed between sRaw and fat percentage. Obese subjects showed an increased sRaw and a reduced sGaw.