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Respiratory function in pregnancy at sea level and at high altitude
Author(s) -
McAuliffe Fionnuala,
Kametas Nikos,
Espinoza Jimmy,
Greenough Anne,
Nicolaides Kypros
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00081.x
Subject(s) - functional residual capacity , lung volumes , medicine , vital capacity , pregnancy , altitude (triangle) , effects of high altitude on humans , pulmonary function testing , sea level , gestation , respiratory system , third trimester , residual volume , lung , lung function , diffusing capacity , anatomy , biology , geography , cartography , geometry , mathematics , genetics
Objective To determine the effect of pregnancy on respiratory function in a non‐Caucasian group and determine whether there was an interaction between pregnancy and altitude of residence. Design Prospective cross sectional study. Setting Antenatal clinics in Peru, at sea level in Lima and at high altitude in Cerro de Pasco. Sample Peruvian women with singleton pregnancies; 122 living at sea level and 192 living at 4300 m altitude in the Peruvian Andes. At each location, 19 non‐pregnant women were also studied. Methods Respiratory function was measured in pregnant and non‐pregnant women living at sea level and at 4300 m. Main outcome measures Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), total lung capacity (TLC), inspiratory capacity (IC), residual volume (RV), expiratory residual volume (ERV) and functional residual capacity (FRC). Results At sea level, RV and TLC were higher in the third compared with the first trimester ( P < 0.05). At high altitude, FEV1 ( P < 0.01), ERV ( P < 0.01) and FRC ( P < 0.01) were lower in the third compared with the first trimester. Pregnant and non‐pregnant women at high altitude were 4 cm shorter ( P < 0.0001) and had larger lung volumes ( P < 0.01); their total lung capacities were approximately 1 L greater than women living at sea level ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion These results suggest that the effect of pregnancy on the respiratory function of healthy women is influenced by altitude of residence.