The Relationship between Lung Function and Metabolic Syndrome in Obese and Non-Obese Korean Adult Males.

BACKGROUND: The existence of an association between lung function and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been debated in cases involving non-obese subjects. To address this debate, we performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the association between lung function and MetS in both obese and non-obese populations.
METHODS: The present study consisted of a total of 1,951 Korean male subjects. In this study group, we investigated relationships between lung function and MetS risk factors such as fasting serum glucose, systolic blood pressure (SBP), insulin resistance index, waist circumference (WC), and hemoglobin A(1C) level.
RESULTS: Forced vital capacity (FVC) values were significantly lower in the MetS group compared with those of the non-MetS group. In both non-obese (body mass index [BMI] < 25 kg/m(2)) and obese subjects (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)), fasting serum glucose, hemoglobin A(1C) level, insulin resistance index, SBP, WC, and the prevalences of diabetes and MetS were significantly higher in subjects in the lowest FVC quartile compared with those in the highest FVC quartile. Odds ratios for the presence of MetS risk factors, after adjusting for age and height, ranged from 1.21 to 1.39 (P < 0.01) for a one standard deviation decrease in FVC.
CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that decreased vital capacity in Korean adult male subjects is associated with MetS, irrespective of obesity.

INTRODUCTION

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a disorder involving impaired glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and central obesity, is associated not only with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, but also with many other systemic disorders such as chronic lung disease and fatty liver disease [1]. In Western countries, several reports have suggested that glucose intolerance or diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases are associated with impaired lung function [2-6].

Recently, several studies have been published showing that decreased lung function is associated with MetS [1,7,8]. While these studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between decreased lung function and MetS [9,10], the relationship between vital capacity and MetS in non-obese subjects remains a matter of debate. In 2009, Oda and Kawai [11] reported that lower vital capacity is associated with diabetes but not with MetS in non-obese Japanese men, and that the association between lower vital capacity and diabetes in non-obese men may involve factors other than MetS or insulin resistance. Conversely, other studies have reported an association between lower vital capacity and MetS even in non-obese subjects, which suggests that lower vital capacity may be associated with certain characteristics of metabolically obese subjects who are of normal weight [12,13].

To our knowledge, few studies have addressed the relationship between lung function and MetS in the Korean population [14]. Thus, we performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between lung function and MetS in both obese and non-obese Korean population.

METHODS

Subjects and measurements

Data was collected from the Samsung Medical Health Promotion Center between March 1 and July 31, 2008. During that time period, a total of 4,804 men and 4,192 women visited the medical center. Of these patients, we selected participants who were 30 years of age or older. The subjects meeting these criteria were requested to fill out a questionnaire regarding their personal history of cardiovascular disease, smoking status, anti-hypertensive medication, anti-lipid drugs, and hypoglycemic agents. Because many of the female patients were not available for answering questionnaire, the present study includes only male subjects.

Subjects with a history of lung cancer, lung or pleural surgery, or chronic lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma) were excluded. To eliminate the effects of smoking on lung function, current smokers were excluded. Based on those exclusion criteria, the final sample population consisted of 1,951 non-smoking men.

For the collection of blood samples, patients fasted overnight, and blood was subsequently collected to measure serum glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), white blood cell count (WBC), electrolytes, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and insulin levels. Lung function tests including forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were performed using a pulmonary function test spirometer (Sensor Medics, Yorba Linda, CA, USA). The results of these tests were used to calculate FEV1/FVC. Body fat was measured using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis using an inBody720 (Biospace, Seoul, Korea). Average blood pressure was calculated from two measurements taken with the subject in a seated position, following 5 minutes of rest. Body weight was measured with subjects wearing light clothing provided by the testing center. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of patient height in meters, and waist circumference (WC) was measured at the level of the umbilicus. The revised National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP III) criteria was used for definition of MetS, in which the presence of three or more of the following five components of MetS were considered a positive indicator for MetS [15]: 1) WC: a modified cutoff point of 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women, which is consistent with recommendations from the International Diabetes Federation for Asian individuals [16]; 2) blood pressure: a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 130 mm Hg and/or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 85 mm Hg; 3) triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL; 4) HDL-C < 40 mg/dL in men and < 50 mg/dL in women; and 5) fasting serum glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL. Subjects who were being treated with antihypertensive agents or hypoglycemic medications at the time of the study were considered to be positive for the respective component of the criteria described above. In addition, subjects were considered as having diabetes if their fasting serum glucose was greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL and/or if the subject was being treated with hypoglycemic medication at the time of evaluation. Subjects were considered positive for hypertension if they had already been prescribed medication for hypertension or if their blood pressure measured SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mm Hg. Likewise, hypertriglyceridemia was defined as a serum triglyceride concentration of more than 150 mg/dL or if a subject was taking a prescribed lipid-lowering agent at the time of evaluation. Obesity was defined as a BMI greater than 25 kg/m2, while central obesity was defined as a WC greater than 90 cm. Insulin resistance was estimated according to the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) [17]. Subjects with a HOMA index greater than 2.52 (75th percentile value for this study group) were defined as having insulin resistance. Before initiating this study, approval was received from the Ethical Committee of Samsung Medical Center at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, Korea.

Statistical analysis

Components of MetS and other clinical characteristics were compared between subjects with and without MetS. Subjects were divided into quartiles based on their FVC values (< 87, 87-96, 96-104, ≥ 104%) and were further subdivided into non-obese (BMI < 25 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) groups. MetS risk factors, prevalence of diabetes, presence of MetS, and other characteristics were compared between subjects in the lowest and highest FVC quartiles in both the non-obese and obese groups. Partial correlation coefficients between FVC and MetS components were calculated for all subjects. The number of MetS components was evaluated and categorized into six groups: group 0 (n = 439), group 1 (n = 500), group 2 (n = 389), group 3 (n = 326), group 4 (n = 219), and group 5 (n = 78), according to the number of MetS components.

The data obtained from the subjects were analyzed such that a multilinear regression analysis was performed, in which FVC was the dependent variable and MetS components were the independent variables. In addition, logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratio for the presence of MetS components, where a 12% (1 SD) decrease in FVC was assumed. Statistical analysis was performed using PASW 17.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), and values of P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The mean subject age was 52.2 ± 8.8 years, and the mean BMI and WC of the subjects were 23.8 ± 3.0 kg/m2 and 86.2 ± 6.9 cm, respectively. The prevalences of diabetes, MetS, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases were 10.4%, 31.9%, 26.1%, and 3.1%, respectively. Basal characteristics and MetS components for MetS and non-MetS subjects are shown in Table 1. With the exception of HDL-C, all MetS components were significantly higher in the MetS subjects than in the non-MetS subjects. A significantly greater number of subjects with MetS were found to be taking anti-hypertensive medication or oral hypoglycemic agents or were diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases than those in the non-MetS group. Likewise, FVC and FEV1 were significantly lower in the MetS group compared with those of subjects in the non-MetS group; however, the FEV1/FVC ratios did not differ significantly between the MetS and non-MetS groups (Table 1). The FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC were also compared between the diabetes and non-diabetes groups. Values of FVC and FEV1 were significantly lower in the diabetic subjects than they were in the non-diabetic subjects (92.0 ± 11.2% vs. 96.2 ± 11.8%, 101.2 ± 13.3% vs. 105.5 ± 13.9%, respectively; P < 0.05); however the FEV1/FVC did not differ significantly (81.7 ± 6.2% vs. 81.9 ± 5.9%; P = NS).

Table 1

Baseline characteristics of the subjects according to metabolic syndrome status

Data are presented as number (%) or mean ± standard deviation unless otherwise indicated.

BMI, body mass index; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; HOMA, homeostasis model assessment; NS, not significant.

aP values were calculated using the t-test (continuous variables) or chi-square test (categorical variables).

After adjusting for age and height, FVC values were negatively correlated with MetS components such as fasting serum glucose, triglycerides, SBP, WC, and HOMA index. Conversely, FVC was positively correlated with BMI and HDL-C (Table 2).

Table 2

Partial correlations between percentage of forced vital capacity (FVC) and metabolic risk factors

The model was adjusted for age and height.

HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA, homeostasis model assessment.

In non-obese subjects, fasting serum glucose, WC, HbA1C, insulin resistance index, SBP, and HDL-C, as well as the prevalences of diabetes, hypertension, and MetS were significantly higher; however, BMI was lower in subjects in the lowest FVC quartile compared to that of those in the highest FVC quartile (Table 3). In obese subjects, fasting serum glucose, body fat, WC, HbA1C, insulin resistance, fasting serum insulin level, SBP, BMI, and the prevalences of diabetes, hypertension, and MetS were significantly higher in subjects in the lowest FVC quartile compared to those of individuals in the highest FVC quartile (Table 4).

Table 3

Basal characteristics and metabolic components of the subjects according to quartile of forced vital capacity (FVC) in the non-obese group (< 25 kg/m2)

BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumference; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; NS, not significant.

Table 4

Basal characteristics and metabolic components of the subjects according to quartile of forced vital capacity (FVC) in the obese group (≥ 25 kg/m2)

BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumference; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; NS, not significant.

The FVC and FEV1 results according to the number of MetS components were as follows: group 0 (97.6 ± 12.0%, 106.5 ± 14.5%, respectively), group 1 (96.5 ± 11.4%, 105.9 ± 12.9%), group 2 (96.3 ± 11.3%, 105.2 ± 13.4%), group 3 (94.3 ± 12.1%, 103.4 ± 14.6%), group 4 (93.4 ± 11.9%, 104.1 ± 14.7%), and group 5 (90.7 ± 12.3%, 99.8 ± 13.9%). Based on these results, there appears to be a trend for FVC and FEV1 to decrease with an increasing number of MetS components. While there was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2, a significant difference between groups 2 and 3 was observed. Thus, having three or more MetS components appeared to be related to significant declines in FVC and FEV1.

The results of our multi-variable linear regression analysis, all metabolic components were entered into the model, using FVC as dependent variables are shown in Table 5. The HOMA index, SBP, and WC appeared to be negatively correlated with FVC after adjusting for age and height; however, fasting serum glucose and triglycerides did not appear to be correlated with FVC.

Table 5

Multivariable linear regression analysis of the relationships between forced vital capacity (FVC) and metabolic risk factors

The model was adjusted for age and height.

B Standard regression coefficient.

HOMA, homeostasis model assessment; NS, not significant.

aP values were calculated using multiple regression analysis.

In our logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for age and height, an FVC decrease of 12% (1 SD) appeared to be associated with increases in type 2 diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR], 1.39 [1.19 to 1.62]), hypertension (OR, 1.22 [1.10 to 1.36]), insulin resistance (OR, 1.31 [1.18 to 1.46]), abdominal obesity (OR, 1.21 [1.10 to 1.34]), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR, 1.21 [1.10 to 1.32]). However, obesity and cardiovascular disease did not appear to be associated with a decrease in FVC.

DISCUSSION

The present study showed a cross-sectional relationship between lung function and MetS in both obese and non-obese males. In the MetS group, both FVC and FEV1 values, but not the FVC/FEV1 ratio, were lower than those of subjects in the non-MetS group. The present study also showed that having three or more MetS components result in a significant decrease in FVC.

Currently, it is thought that there is a common mechanism underlying MetS, such as insulin resistance and/or obesity [18,19]. Previous studies have reported that fasting serum insulin levels and insulin resistance are inversely correlated with FVC and FEV1 [3,20]. Our study showed that fasting serum insulin and insulin resistance (HOMA) are also inversely correlated with FVC and FEV1. In addition, obesity has been shown to be inversely related to lung function [21]. Consistent with previous studies, we observed that WC appears to be negatively correlated with FVC and FEV1 in both obese and non-obese males, but BMI appears to be positively correlated with FVC and FEV1. However, in individuals with a BMI greater than 25 kg/m2, a negative correlation with FVC and FEV1 was observed (data not shown), also in agreements with the results of previous studies [12]. Based on these results, we suggest that, in general, a higher BMI may be associated with a higher body fat percentage; however, in the case of subjects whose BMI is less than 25 kg/m2, a higher BMI may arise from increased levels of lean tissue, such as muscle mass. Together, central obesity and insulin resistance, rather than BMI alone, may play an important role in decreases in lung function, especially with respect to FVC. Recently, Oda and Kawai [11] reported that a lower vital capacity is associated with diabetes but not with MetS in non-obese subjects. Specifically, they found that a lower vital capacity was associated with a lower BMI in non-obese Japanese, and that the association between lower vital capacity and diabetes in non-obese Japanese may involve factors other than MetS or insulin resistance. However, in our study, we found that lower FVC values were associated with MetS and diabetes in non-obese individuals, despite the lower BMI in the lowest FVC quartile compared to that in the highest FVC quartile. In the non-obese group, fasting serum glucose, HbA1C level, SBP, insulin resistance index, and the prevalences of diabetes, hypertension, and MetS were significantly higher in subjects in the lowest FVC quartile compared to those of subjects in the highest FVC quartile. These differences may be explained by studying the high prevalence of MetS in our study group (21.3 to 40.3%) as compared to that of the Oda and Kawai study group (4.7 to 4.8%). Likewise, WC values also were higher in our group (84.0 to 86.0 cm) than they were in the Oda and Kawai group (80.0 to 81.9 cm) [11,22]. As in previous reports [12], our study also suggested that a lower FVC may be associated with characteristics of metabolically obese subjects who are of normal weight [13].

Abdominal obesity was a better predictor of pulmonary function than BMI is. This association may result from the mechanical effects of abdominal obesity, which may mechanically affect compliance of the diaphragm and chest wall [23]. Further, abdominal obesity is linked to the metabolic effects of obesity, in that adiposity is a low-grade inflammatory condition that is linked to insulin resistance. Visceral adipose tissue influences adipokines and cytokines, such as interleukine 6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. These cytokines may cause systemic inflammation, which is thought to be involved in the association between central obesity and/or insulin resistance and pulmonary function [24].

In our multi-linear regression analysis, insulin resistance, as measured by the HOMA index, appeared to be independently associated with FVC after adjusting for age, height, and MetS components. This result suggests that the relationship between insulin resistance and FVC is independent of abdominal obesity, which is itself a risk factor for the development of insulin resistance and a mechanical factor that may lead to impaired lung function. As shown in other reports, there are additional known factors that correlate with insulin resistance, such as hypertension and diabetes, all of which are inversely correlated with FVC [3,5,6]. However, the underlying mechanism of decreased lung function may be multi-factorial. Our study was not controled for several potential confounding factors, such as physical activity, socio-economic status, or alcohol intake. These potential confounding factors may explain our low correlation coefficient.

Previous reports have shown that impaired lung function can predict the developments of diabetes, insulin resistance, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease [4,6,20]. In our study, we inferred that a decrease in FVC was associated with increased risks of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and central obesity; however, unlike other studies, no relationship between decreased lung function and cardiovascular disease was found. The reason for this lack of an association may have been due to the low incidence of cardiovascular disease in our study subjects. Our study also found no increase in the risk of obesity with decreased lung function. Together, these results suggest that it is not simply obesity, but rather insulin resistance and/or central obesity are more important causes of decreased lung function.

Our study was performed on a limited cross-section of the population, using only male subjects, and was not controlled for potential biases from physical activity and alcohol consumption. Thus, a longitudinal prospective study that includes female subjects will be needed to establish the relationship between lung function and MetS.

In summary, insulin resistance and certain components of MetS (type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, central obesity, and hypertriglyceridemia) appear to be related to vital capacity, irrespective of obesity, in Korean males. These findings suggest that there is a relationship between a lower FVC and MetS in non-obese subjects, which may also be associated with metabolically obese subjects of normal weight.