Variation of Body Mass Index and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate among Medical Students of CMH Lahore Medical College

Abstract

Objective: To find out the variation of body mass index and peak expiratory flow rate among medical  students of Combined Military Hospital, Lahore Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted by undergraduate students of CMH, at CMH Lahore  Medical College and Institute of Dentistry in September 2019 after Ethical approval from the Ethical Review  Committee of the same institution. There were 138 1st year medical students. Demographic profiles of all the  students were taken and height, weight, BMI, PEFR were measured. Participants were classified on the basis of their BMI values. Underweight (BMI<18.5), normal weight (18.5≤BMI≤ 24.9), overweight (25≤BM≤ 29.9), and obese (BMI≥ 30). Correlational tests were applied to find out any statistically significant  correlations. Ap value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The mean BMI in females was 23.16±6.01 corresponding with that of mean PEFR value  325.23±62.30 whereas in males the mean BMI was 22.65±3.11 corresponding with that of mean PEFR value  433.97±101.84. There is a statistically significant variation in PEFR with gender (r=0.540, p=0.001) which  can be explained on ethnic backgrounds. Males had a higher PEFR than females. However, there was no  significant correlation between BMI and PEFR. Also, gender was not related to BMI.
Conclusion: In our study, PEFR is not affected by variation in BMI. However, gender is associated with  PEFR. Males have a higher PEFR than females. This can be explained on the basis of ethnicity. BMI is not  associated with gender. A large sample size with more accurate calculation of PEFR is needed for better  evaluation.

How to cite: Ijaz F, Hafeez F, Bashir I, Aftab RK, Malik SA.Variation of body mass index and peak expiratory flow rate  among medical students of CMH Lahore medical college. J SIMS Esculapio.2021;17(1):