The impact of diabetes mellitus on ventilatory function among South-Eastern Nigerians

Background: The pulmonary affectation by diabetes mellitus (DM) has not received adequate attention, and as such, there is paucity of data on the impact of DM on ventilatory function especially in South-Eastern, Nigeria. This study, therefore, aimed to determine the impact of type 2 DM on ventilatory function as observed at a tertiary health care facility in South-Eastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study of 100 consenting type 2 DM patients aged between 30 and 65 years, and 100 consenting, normal, adequately matched subjects. Anthropometric parameters were obtained from both study groups, and spirometry was done using spirolab III, version 1.7. Predicted ventilatory parameters were calculated using Nigerian equations. SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 100 type 2 DM patients and 100 normal control subjects were studied. There were 49 males and 51 females with type 2 DM. Comparatively, 51 of the control group were males while 49 were females. The mean FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75, and PEFR, were significantly lower in the type 2 DM group than in the control group (P values of 0.010, 0.015, <0.001, 0.006 respectively). Likewise percentage predicted FVC, FEV1 and PEFR were significantly lower in the type 2 DM patients (P values <0.05). As much as 22% of the type 2 DM subjects had restrictive pattern while 2% had obstructive pattern. Long duration of DM (10 years or more) was associated with increased likelihood of developing restrictive ventilatory pattern (P < 0.001, odds ratio 14.224). Conclusion: Type 2 DM is associated with restrictive ventilatory dysfunction. Duration of DM of 10 years or more is an independent predictor of restrictive ventilatory pattern among type 2 DM subjects.