Impact of diabetes mellitus on pulmonary functions test

Abstract EN

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrine-metabolic disorder resulting from insulin insufficiency or dysfunction characterized by hyperglycemia associated with a series of macro and micro vascular complications.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of DM on lung functions and its association with inflammatory markers mainly serum C- reactive protein.

Methods: This study involved 58 patients with DM and 30 apparently healthy subjects as controls.

In addition to other laboratory assessments, pulmonary functions were carried out through measurement of FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio, using a computerized spirometer (SpiroLap III).

Results: Among diabetic patients 72.41% of them showed restrictive lung disease, and lung volumes (particularly in type I) represented by the means of FVC (2.43L) and FEV1 (2.32L) were significantly lower (p=0.03 & p=0.02 respectively) than those of controls (FVC=2.83L & FEV1=2.73L).

No significant difference in FEV1/FVC ratio was found between them.

In addition, restrictive lung disease in patients with positive diabetic complications was significantly higher (51.72% Vs 20.68%, p= 0.005) than those with negative complications.

Restrictive lung disease was significantly higher in patients with poor glycemic control compared to those with fair and good control.

Conclusion: Respiratory system of diabetic patients may undergo a dysfunction during the course of the disease represented by subclinical restrictive tendency and its severity become more intense particularly in diabetics with poor glycemic control which provide a clue to the idea that the Respiratory system, especially the lungs and respiratory muscles can be the target organs for diabetic complications.