Chest
Volume 137, Issue 6, 2010, Pages 1398-1404

Comparison of pulmonary function in immigrant vs US-born Asian Indians (Article)

Fulambarker A.* , Copur A.S. , Cohen M.E. , Patel M. , Gill S. , Schultz S.T. , Quanjer P.H.
  • a Pulmonary Division, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, United States
  • b Pulmonary Division, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, United States
  • c Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research, Great Lakes, IL, United States
  • d Pulmonary Division, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, United States
  • e Pulmonary Division, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, United States
  • f Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research, Great Lakes, IL, United States
  • g Departments of Pulmonary Diseases and Pediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated whether there is a difference in pulmonary function between healthy adult US-born Asian Indians and immigrant Asian Indians attributable to country of birth, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. Design: FEV 1, FVC, and forced mid-expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF 25-75 ) were measured in India-born and US-born subjects residing in the Chicago metropolitan area. Hollingshead Index of Social Position was used to evaluate socioeconomic factors. Results: There were 262 India-born (61.8% male), and 200 US-born (50% male) subjects who were healthy lifelong nonsmokers; their age range was 16 to 36 years. US-born Asian Indian men and women were taller and had higher pulmonary function values for height and age compared with immigrant Asian Indian men and women. The differences were most pronounced in women:about 7% for FVC, 9% for FEV 1, and 17% for FEF 25-75 . Immigrant and US-born subjects did not differ in socioeconomic position. Conclusion: We conclude that US-born Asian Indian men and women have higher pulmonary function values for age and height compared with immigrant Asian Indian men and women. This probably refl ects the effect of differing environmental conditions, which cause year-of-birth trends in lung volumes. © 2010 American College of Chest Physicians.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant lung function expiratory flow human forced expiratory volume birthplace forced vital capacity Asian Indian ethnic group controlled study priority journal comparative study groups by age United States social status Adolescent male female Article adult normal human body height
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77953301258&doi=10.1378%2fchest.09-1911&partnerID=40&md5=3af629cf6d4592f10236035b7d2df6d1
DOI: 10.1378/chest.09-1911
ISSN: 00123692
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English