Body Mass Index and its correlation with pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis from Cartagena (Colombia)

Indice de Masa Corporal y su correlación con la función pulmonar en pacientes con fibrosis quística en Cartagena (Colombia)

Gustavo Mora Garda¹, Enrique Ramos Clason², Fabio Anaya Lorduy³, Dacia Malambo García⁴, Claudio Gómez Alegría⁵, Doris Gómez Camargo⁶

¹ MD. Estudiante doctoral, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cartagena. Doctorado en Medicina Tropical.

² MD, MSc. Profesor, Universidad de Cartagena, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Investigaciones.

³ Clínica Universitaria San Juan de Dios, Departamento de Neumología Pediátrica.

⁴ MSc. profesora de la Universidad de Cartagena.

⁵ Ph. D profesor asociado, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Farmacia de la Universidad Nacional.

⁶ Ph. D. Universidad de Cartagena (Colombia). degomez@hotmail.com

Fecha de recepción: 26 de octubre de 2010 Fecha de aceptación: 8 de febrero de 2011

Abstract

Background. Sinus-pulmonary manifestations are a major concern in CF patients. Pulmonary function shows a strong relationship with nutritional status. In Colombia, malnutrition is a public health issue; however there are no reports that fully analyze nutritional status and lung function in CF children.

Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was developed conducted with 32 patients registered in the CF Attention Program. Measurements were performed following the NIOSH Spirometry Training Guide. Body Mass Index (Z-Score) was calculated according to Onis.et.al. Correlation was determined by a regression model. Results. 14 children were able to perform the test with criteria for the study, mean for age 12.4 ± 3.4 years. % Forced Expiratory Volume1 and % Forced Vital Capacity means were 66.7 ± 28.5 and 69.5 ± 2.0, respectively. Body Mass Index (Z-score) mean was -1.17. BMI-regression for % Forced Expiratory Volume1, r2=0.31(P<0.01); % Forced Vital Capacity, r2=0.22(P<.01).

Conclusions. Results demonstrated a correlation between Body Mass Index and Lung Function. This correlation persists, even in populations with notorious nutritional deficit such as this group. Special nutritional therapies should be implemented for this group and similar populations.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis, nutritional status, Body Mass Index, spirometry.

Resumen

Introducción: Las manifestaciones sinopulmonares son de gran interés en pacientes con fibrosis quística. La función pulmonar se ha correlacionado con el estado nutricional en estos pacientes. En Colombia, la malnutrición es un problema de importancia para la salud pública; sin embargo, no se han publicado reportes que analicen el estado nutricional y la función pulmonar en pacientes con fibrosis quística.

Materiales y métodos: Se disenó un estudio transversal con 32 pacientes registrados en el Programa de Atención Integral para Pacientes con Fibrosis Quística y sus familias. Los exámenes se realizaron siguiendo la guía de entrenamiento de la NIOSH. El índice de Masa Corporal (Z-Score) fue calculado siguiendo las recomendaciones de Onis et al. El grado de correlación fue determinado por un modelo de regresión.

Conclusiones: Los resultados demostraron correlación entre el índice de Masa Corporal y la función pulmonar. Esta correlación persistió incluso en poblaciones con un notorio déficit nutricional como la de este estudio. Una terapia nutricional específica debería ser implementada en este grupo y poblaciones similares.

Palabras clave: Fibrosis quística, estado nutricional, índice de Masa Corporal, espirometría.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-limiting autosomic recessive disease among Caucasians and its incidence is approximately 1/3000 live births (1-4). In Latin America, incidence range varies due to the ethnic heterogeneity. There are values reported as high as 1/1587 and others considerably lower, expressed between 1/8500 and 1/32258 (3, 5, 6).

CF alterations are caused by several mutations in Cystic Fibrosis Conductance Trans-membrane Regulator (CFTR) gene that encodes for a transmembrane protein (4, 7-8). This defect disrupts chloride conductance, expressing clinical features that involve respiratory and digestive systems, and exo-crine glands (9-11). The sinus-pulmonary manifestations are the major focus of morbidity and mortality, characterized by a continued deterioration in lung function, persistent inflammation and chronic infection with opportunistic agents such as Pseudo-monas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae (12, 13).

Spirometry is the most important test to evaluate and monitor pulmonary function in patients with CF (14-16). Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV₁) are the most used standard parameters in order to determinate patient's lung function (17). FEV₁ is the principal reference value for monitoring lung function and is the most accurate predictor for mortality in CF (14, 17).

Pulmonary function shows a strong relation with nutritional status, expressed generally by the Body Mass Index (BMI), nutrition indexes have predictive value over FEV₁ (18, 19). According to this, the Patient Registry Annual Data Report established the BMI percentile 50 as the goal for children with CF (18). Moreover, nutritional status is correlated with quality of life in adults with CF(20). Thus, nutritional indexes and lung function test are the most important values in order to monitor the evolution of patients with CF. In Colombia, malnutrition is a public health issue, however there is no report concerning to the correlation between BMI and pulmonary function in Colombian patients with CF. The aim of this study was to describe these variables, and calculate the grade of association between nutritional status and lung function parameters in CF patients (21).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed, with 32 pediatric patients included in the "Programa de Atención Integral para Pacientes con Fibrosis Quística" (Integral Attention Program for Patients with Cystic Fibro-sis), designed by the "Universidad de Cartagena", in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. All patients had clinical features suggestive of CF and were positive for at least 2 iontophoresis tests. Due to difficulties previously reported, to perform lung function tests by spirometry in patients younger than 6 years old, this group was excluded (15).

Nutritional status for all patients was calculated by the Body Mass Index (BMI), and then compared with the standard values published in 2007 by Mercedes de Onis et al. (22). Indexes were finally expressed as Z-Scores for specific age and percentiles referenced for specific age and gender, following the recommendations published by Sinaasappel M. et al. in their consensus report (23).

Although most patients are familiar with the test, all of them were verbally trained; relevance of useful results was emphasized. Neck movements were specially evaluated during the procedures, in order to conserve an appropriate position and preserve the reproducibility of measurements. Nose clips were not used. Other general considerations were made, following the maneuvers described in the NIOSH Spirometry Training Guide (26).

The first three measurements considered as reproducible were registered; mean value of these three tests was defined as a reliable result. None of the patients performed 8 attempts or more in order to obtain acceptable values for FVC and FEV₁. For this study, only FVC and FEV₁, and their respective % FVC and % FEV, were registered to determine lung function.

Values for %VEF1, %CVF and BMI Z-Score were defined as continuous quantitative variables, and their association was based on an n-dimensional analysis. Linear regression was applied to establish correlation between BMI and lung function, with a 95% confidence limit. P< 0.05 was considered as significant. The procedures were conducted using EpiInfo 3.3.2, developed by the Epidemiology Program Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Informed consent was evaluated and approved by the University of Cartagena Ethics Committee. A written consent was requested for each patient and their parents.

RESULTS

Residents from the Colombian Caribbean

A total of 14 children (9 boys, 5 girls) fulfilled the criteria for the study. Average age was 12.4 ± 3.4 years old. Measurements for lung function were taken at least 4 times; the mean of the 3 highest percents was registered as the final value.

Height and weight Z-score average for specific age were (-0.005) and (-1.10), respectively. In percentile distribution for height, 1 patient was below percentile 3; (21%) (n = 3) were in the 3-10 percentile interval; and another (21%) of patients were within the 10-25 percentile interval; 1 patient (7%) was in the 25-50 percentile interval; (21%) were in the 75-90 interval, 1 patient was in the 9097 interval, and 2 patients (14%) were over the 97 percentile.

There were no patients in the 50-75 percentile interval.

Figure 1. (Modified from WHO Bulletin [22]) BMI distribution associated to specific genderand page in pediatrics patients. A) Graphic adapted to boys. M=-109, Z-Score; B) Graphic adapted to girls. M= -1.31, Z-Score.

The measurements for FEV_: and FVC were registered in litters; means for these variables were (1.8 ± 1.2) lt. and (2.0 ± 1.3) lt., respectively. Mean for predictive %FEV_: was (66.7 ± 28.5) and for %FVC was (69.5 ± 22.0). %FEVj and %FVC predictive values were both below 80% in 9 patients (Figure 2). %FEVj and %FVC dispersion related with BMI is demonstrated in figure 2. Central tendency lines slopes described a direct relation between both %FEV1 and %FVC, expressing that an increase in BMI coincides with improvement in pulmonary function values. BMI Z-Score regression for %FEV_: was r² = 0.31 (P<0.01); and for %FVC was, r² = 0.22. (P<0.01) (Tabla 1).

Figure 2. Pulmonary function dispersion over BML. Upper cancel) WHVC dispersion over BMI, and tendenev line, shows a direct associaten. Lower cancell) WHEVI dispersion shows direct association with BMI.

Weight for specific age distribution was: 14% (n=2) of patients below percentile 3; 35% (n=5) of patients in the 3-10 percentile intervals; 7% (n=1) of patients in the 10-25 interval; 14% (n=2) in the 25-50 interval; 21% (n=3) in the 50-75 interval, and 1 patient 7% in the 75-90 interval. There were no patients over the 90 percentile.

DISCUCION

Results demonstrated correlation between BMI and Lung Function, indicating that lower nutritional status is related to lower FEVj and CVF values. Although causality cannot be inferred from this study, it is possible to affirm that approximately 30% of pulmonary function can be explained by nutritional pattern (Tabla 1).

Similar correlation had been revealed before in larger studies with growth and nutritional indexes (19, 27). We found that this correlation persists even in groups of patients with severe nutritional deficit, as exposed in this analysis.

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Table 1

Shows a linear regression for BMI = %FEV_r The correlation coefficients were calculated according to a bidimensional analysis.

This group of patients exhibited a poor nutritional status, even lower than expected in patients with CF. (18-23) However, this finding is in agreement with high malnutrition prevalence related to Colombian pediatric population (28), suggesting an addition of community-associated risks (i.e. dietary deficit, recurrent enteroviral infection) and CF-associated factors contributing to weight loss and patients deterioration. According to other authors, severity of these notorious deficits would be also linked to variables that are beyond the scope of this study, such as genotypic characteristic, age at time of CF diagnosis and chronic P. aeruginosa infection. (10, 13, 29) Naturally, pulmonary function showed a parallel deterioration in this group.

Despite the coexistence of multiple variables, BMI control and malnutrition treatment offer an important possibility to improve pulmonary conditions, mainly in these cases in Colombian Caribbean cities, where early diagnoses are difficult due to CF low incidence (3,6) and socioeconomical conditions are complex (30).

Thus, results coincided with several reports suggesting that groups of patients with CF require special attention to nutritional therapy (18-19, 23, 27). According to these results, increasing BMI until percentile 50 or Z-score = 0, would improve pulmonary function in approximately 30% from baseline. Unfortunately approaching to optimal weight and height in children with CF has shown to be difficult, even with aggressive treatments (23).

Due to singular economical conditions in the Colombian Caribbean Coast, considered as one of the poorest in Colombia (29), a nutritional strategy should be based on general guidelines, like those implemented successfully in Antioquia, another Colombian region (31), in order to supply intake deficits that do not correspond to the phy-siopathology of CF. Naturally, it is necessary to adjust these strategies adding components to supply special requirements for patients with CF, related principally to pancreatic insufficiency (11).

Funding: Universidad de Cartagena. Interest Conflict: None.

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