Pulmonary functions in pregnancy complicated with anemia

Background: The aim of the present study was to find out the variation of pulmonary function parameters in different trimesters of pregnancy as well as variation according to severity of anemia in each trimester. Methods: The present case control study was carried out in the post-graduate department of obstetrics & gynecology, M.K.C.G. medical college and hospital, Berhampur, during the period from October 2012 to October 2013. This study entitled “Pulmonary functions in pregnancy complicated with anemia”, embodies the pulmonary functions of 60 anemic pregnant females (study group) and 100 healthy pregnant females (control) in different trimesters of pregnancy. The pulmonary function parameters, which were studied, are FVC, FEV 1 , FEV 1 /FVC, FEF 25-75% , PEFR and MVV in both the study and control group. Results: Comparing the variation with advancing gestation in study and control, it was seen that FVC, FEV 1 , FEV 1 /FVC and FEF 25-75% showed no significant alteration. With increasing severity of anemia compared to controls, FVC, FEV 1 , PEFR and MVV values reduce significantly. As FEF 25-75% is not effort dependent, it shows no significant variation. Conclusion: Thus from this study, it can be concluded that moderate to severe anemia in pregnancy can adversely affect pulmonary functions. Hence nutritional anemia in early pregnancy should be provided with iron supplements in order to prevent adverse obstetric outcomes.