Study of pulmonary functions in patients with metabolic syndrome

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and impaired lung functions have been associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the pulmonary functions in patients with MetS. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 200 subjects with MetS in the study group and 100 subjects without MetS in the control group. Participants were examined at M.P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, India between 2013 to 2016. MetS was assessed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program&rsquo;s-Adult Treatment Panel III Criteria. Pulmonary function, fasting glucose, insulin and lipid profile levels were measured and homeostatic model assessment was used to assess insulin resistance. Pulmonary function and components of MetS were examined using independent Student's t-test, analysis of variance and chi-square test. Results: The overall prevalence of pulmonary functions impairment in patients with MetS was 50% with high prevalence of restrictive ventilatory patterns (33%). Insulin resistance was significantly (P<0.001) higher in the study group than in control group, while pulmonary functions variables of study group were significantly (P<0.001) lower than those of control group. There were significant differences in the body mass index, waist circumference, blood glucose, and insulin resistance (P<0.05) between ventilatory pattern of subgroups. Conclusion: We found that components of MetS and insulin resistance were significantly related to the impairment of pulmonary function. Therefore present study suggests that increased components of MetS and insulin resistance are risk factors for decline pulmonary functions in subjects with MetS.