BACKGROUND COPD is an important public health challenge characterized by obstruction to airflow that is not reversible. Low BMI is also considered as an independent negative determinant of survival in patients with COPD. There are few studies comparing association between peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory volume in 1 st second (FEV1) for severity classification of COPD. The role of PEFR as a substitute of FEV1 in situations and resource limited areas has not been

more »

... studied. METHODS This was a cross sectional, observational study. The study was conducted in the Respiratory The study population was selected from among 117 consecutive patients of COPD. BMI was measured in each patient. Both FEV1 and PEFR were obtained at a single visit using spirometer and FEV1, post-bronchodilator FVC, and ratio of FEV1/FVC (FEV1%) were measured and statistically analysed. Data was coded and entered in MS Excel and analysed using the statistical package SPSS version 18. Pearson Correlation test was done for linear relations between quantitative variables. RESULTS Among the 117 study participants, on applying the Pearson correlation test, we found that PEFR (L/min) and post FEV1% predicted were strongly correlated (positive correlation) (r= 0.725, p< 0.001) but same test applied for BMI and post FEV1% predicted were weakly (Positive correlation) correlated ( r= 0.283, p= 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Both BMI and PEFR had positive correlation with post FEV1% predicted. BMI showed weak correlation but PEFR showed strong correlation with FEV1%, hence we can use PEFR as a surrogate marker for daily monitoring in patients with COPD. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Parambil R, Suriyan S, Nagesh NJ, et al. A study of correlation of body mass index and peak expiratory flow rate with fev1 in patients of COPD. BACKGROUND Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the world but is anticipated to be the 3 rd leading cause of death by 2020. (1) More than three million people died of COPD in 2012 reported for 6% of all deaths worldwide. (2) The primary reason of COPD is exposure to tobacco smoke (Either active smoking or second hand smoke).