# The Relationship Between Anthropometric Variables and Lung Function in a Severe Smoking Community Population With Ventilatory Dysfunction

## TL;DR

This study finds that low BMI and waist circumference are linked to severe lung issues in heavy smokers, suggesting questionnaires can help manage lung health.

## Contribution

Identifies BMI and waist circumference as independent risk factors for severe ventilatory dysfunction in a heavy-smoking population.

## Key findings

- Low BMI is an independent risk factor for severe and very severe obstructive ventilation dysfunction.
- Waist circumference is also an independent risk factor for obstructive ventilation dysfunction.
- COPD questionnaires may aid in managing lung function in community populations.

## Abstract

The World Health Organization estimated that 65 million individuals have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, large numbers remain undiagnosed. Anthropometric variables and lung function are closely related, such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR). Therefore, it is essential to explore the relationship between anthropometric variables and lung function.

We recruited 7679 severe smokers. Severe smoking was defined as a smoking index ≥ 20 pack‐years. Among these participants, there are 6214 severe smokers with mild, moderate, and moderately severe obstructive ventilation dysfunction and 1465 severe smokers with severe and very severe obstructive ventilation dysfunction. Otherwise, participants were divided into different groups according to questionnaires and sex.

Lung function in the severe smoking community population was associated with anthropometric variables. The study results showed that BMI was negatively associated with the risk of severe and very severe obstructive ventilation dysfunction in a severe smoking community population with ventilatory dysfunction (OR 0.791, 95% CI 0.691–0.907, p = 0.001), the COPD Population Screener (COPD‐PS) scores ≥ 5 group (OR 0.787, 95% CI 0.688–0.902, p = 0.001), the COPD Screening Questionnaire (COPD‐SQ) scores ≥ 16 group (OR 0.791, 95% CI 0.689–0.908, p = 0.001), the COPD‐PS scores ≥ 5 and COPD‐SQ scores ≥ 16 group (OR 0.730, 95% CI 0.603–0.884, p = 0.001) and the male group (OR 0.813, 95% CI 0.708–0.933, p = 0.003). The study showed that WC was also associated with obstructive ventilation dysfunction.

Low BMI and WC were independent risk factors for severe and very severe obstructive ventilation dysfunction in the severe smoking community Chinese population with ventilatory dysfunction. Collecting COPD questionnaires may help manage lung function in the community population.

BMI was an independent risk factor for obstructive ventilation dysfunction. WC was an independent risk factor for obstructive ventilation dysfunction. Questionnaires help manage lung function and anthropometric variables.