Prevalence and Determinants of Spirometric Abnormalities among Individuals Undergoing Pulmonary Function Testing in South Gujarat, India
Komal B. Zinzala
Department of Microbiology, Shree Ramkrishna Institute of Computer Education and Applied Sciences, Sarvajanik University, Surat, Gujarat, India.
Manisha N. Shah *
Department of Microbiology, Shree Ramkrishna Institute of Computer Education and Applied Sciences, Sarvajanik University, Surat, Gujarat, India.
Samir P. Gami
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Shivam Chest Clinic, Surat, Gujarat, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are widely used to detect ventilatory abnormalities and assess respiratory health. Spirometry plays an important role in the diagnosis, classification and monitoring of respiratory diseases. However, data on spirometric patterns and their associated determinants in the Indian population remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of spirometric abnormalities and to evaluate their association with demographic and lifestyle factors among individuals undergoing pulmonary function testing.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2024 among 875 participants undergoing spirometry at tertiary care hospitals and community-based health check-up camps in South Gujarat, India. Spirometry was performed in accordance with American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines using a Spirolab portable spirometer. Pulmonary function patterns were classified as normal, obstructive, restrictive or mixed ventilatory defects. The severity of impairment was graded as mild, moderate or severe according to standard interpretative criteria. Associations between spirometric patterns and demographic or lifestyle variables were tested using chi-square tests.
Results: Of the 875 participants, 50.4% had normal spirometry and 49.6% had abnormal pulmonary function findings. The most common abnormality was a restrictive spirometric pattern (44.7%), followed by obstructive (3.2%) and mixed ventilatory defects (1.7%). Mild impairment was observed in 25.26% of participants, moderate impairment in 18.63% and severe impairment in 4.0%. Significant associations were observed between spirometric abnormalities and age group (p < 0.0001), sex (p = 0.0081) and smoking status (p < 0.0001). No significant association was found between body mass index (BMI) and spirometric patterns (p = 0.6155).
Conclusion: Abnormal spirometric findings were common among participants in the study population. The association of age, sex and smoking status with pulmonary function abnormalities highlights the importance of spirometry in respiratory screening and smoking-related health interventions.
Keywords: Spirometry, pulmonary function tests, spirometric abnormalities, restrictive spirometric pattern, obstructive ventilatory defect, smoking status, body mass index, respiratory screening, South Gujarat, pulmonary impairment