Waist Circumference Associated With Pulmonary Function in Children

In adults abdominal obesity is related to lung dysfunction and waist circumference (WC) predicts pulmonary function. It is not known how WC affects pulmonary function in children. A cross-sectional study of 718 children 6-17 years of age was conducted in a rural community to determine the predictability of WC for pulmonary function in children. Height, weight, WC, and pulmonary function were measured. Multivariate analysis was conducted. WC was positively associated with FVC and FEV1 and was more strongly associated with FVC than with FEV1. Increase in WC significantly predicted a reduction in FEV1/FVC. After adjustment for sex, age, and height, an increase of 1 cm for WC was associated with an increase of 7 ml of FVC and 4 ml of FEV1, and with an increase of 4 ml of FVC and 2 ml of FEV1 with an additional adjustment for weight. Height and weight were not significantly associated with FEV1/FVC. WC but not body mass index predicted a decline of FEV1/FVC. WC had a larger impact on FVC than FEV1. WC, but not BMI, was negatively associated with FEV1/FVC in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:216-221. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.