Lung Function in Korean Adolescent Girls: in Association with Obesity and the Menstrual Cycle

Gender differences in asthma have been observed with a preponderance of boys affected before puberty and girls during and after puberty. The known influences of the menstrual cycle on asthma support a role for female sex hormones on the changing expression of asthma during adolescence. The purpose of this study was to investigate obesity, the menstrual cycle and lung function in adolescent girls. One hundred and three female high school girls (mean age: 15.9 +/- 0.8 yr) were enrolled. The investigation was performed using a questionnaire that included history of asthma, the menstrual cycle, other combined allergic disease and obesity. The skin prick and pulmonary function test during menstruation period and non-menstruation period. Analyses of these factors were compared. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly lower in the obese group compared to the non-obese group (99.8 +/- 13.8 vs. 107.1 +/- 10.2, p=0.03). The FEV1 was significantly lower in the girls during menstruation period than in the girls who were not on menstruation (17.5 +/- 10.2 vs. 80.4 +/- 8.6, p=0.03). Our results showed that changes of pulmonary function were related to menstrual cycle and obesity in Korean adolescent girls.