Pulmonary Functioris in Pregnant Sri Lankan Women

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the changes in vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate during the course of pregnancy in Sri Lankan women. This is a crossectional study done on 238 pregnant women recruited from antenatal clinics at different periods of gestation. Subjects were divided into eight groups according to their period of gestation. In each subject the vital capacity was obtained by using the vitalograph -and PEFR by blowing into the peak flow meter, three times and the best value obtained. Predicted valué for vital capacity and PEFR of each mother was calculated by using the regression equation for the Sri Lankan women using the height and age of each mother. For each group mean- predicted value and the mean observed value were calculated and the difference in these two values were compared among groups. Also the mean FEVI and FEVI / FVC ratio was determined. for each group. There was no significant difference in FVC, FEVi / FVC and PEFR among the eight groups depending on the period of gestation. Therefore, FVC and PEFR are two useful lung function tests, which can be performed on pregnant women throughout the course of pregnancy, as performed in the non-pregnant State for early diagnosis of pulmonary dysfunction.