A study of pulmonary functions in female students living in air conditioned and non-air conditioned environment

Background: Air conditioners are being used extensively nowadays across the globe. Air conditioners (AC’s) have become indispensable at public places and in homes as well. Material and methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Mullana (Ambala). Results: Group 1B (Post-Exposure AC users) had statistically significant reduction in FEV1 and FVC with p values 0.004 and 0.003 respectively as compared to Group 1A (Pre-Exposure Ac users) However, there is no significant change seen in FEV1/FVC ratio with p value 0.148. Conclusion: To conclude, there was a significant decrease found in the Pulmonary Function Parameters i.e. FVC and FEV1 after usage of air conditioners. However there was no significant change seen in FEV1/FVC%. This shows a predisposition of AC users towards pulmonary dysfunction. BACKGROUND: Air conditioners are being used extensively nowadays across the globe. Air conditioners (AC’s) have become indispensable at public places and in homes as well. Till recent times, air conditioned environment was thought to be pleasant and harmless but many researchers have concluded that persons working and living in air conditioned environment are firmly related with increase in prevalance of work related headaches, fatigue and upper respiratory symptoms. Hence, air conditioning may affect human health since it has a profound effect on our environment, than just lowering the temperature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Mullana (Ambala). Indian Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Research; December 2018: Vol.-8, Issue1, P. 49 56 50 www.ijbamr. com P ISSN: 2250-284X , E ISSN : 2250-2858 STUDY GROUPS: 100 female subjects were selected from MMU hostels. The selected subjects were categorized into 2 major groups: GROUP 1(Study group) consisted of 50 healthy female students living in AC hostels. It was further divided into Pre-exposure (Group 1A) and Post-exposure group (Group 1B). GROUP 2 (Control group) consisted of randomly selected 50 healthy female students living in Non AC hostels. Both the groups were demographically comparable in terms of Age, Weight and Height. All the subjects were Females between the age group of 18-28 yrs. Pulmonary function testing was done twice in a time span of 6 months. First reading was taken in the month of April 2015 before the usage of air conditioners and second reading after exposure of Ac’s in October 2015. All the subjects were staying in the same hostel and usage of AC was for minimum of 6 hrs/day and atleast 5 days a week from the past 6 months. The AC temperature was between 18-22 degree centigrade as the Ac’s present in the hostels are Central AC’s i.e all have a similar temperature. Those students who stayed in Non-Ac hostels were taken as controls. The equipment used was computerised spirometer, Spiro-Excel (Medicaid Systems Chandigarh). The following Lung volumes and capacities were recorded:  Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1)  Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)  FEV1/FVC The subjects were made to sit comfortably and were told to take a deep breath in and out to familiarize with the equipment. The subject was then asked to inhale to his maximum capacity and forcefully blow into the sensor (nose clipped) as hard as possible for as long as possible. This procedure was repeated three times and the best of three readings were considered for analysis. Data was tabulated and statistically analysed. DATA ANALYSIS: All the observations of the study were recorded as per proforma attached and the data collected was entered in Microsoft Office Excel version 2007. It was then analyzed by SPSS computer program for windows version 20. Mean ± SD (Standard Deviation) was calculated and “Independent sample T test” was used to obtain statistical significance (p value) between the Post-Exposure, Pre-Exposure and Non-Ac group groups. However, the Pre and Post Exposure of Ac were analysed by paired ‘T’ test. Statistical significance was determined from p value with a p value of < 0.05 considered as significant and p value ≤ 0.001 considered as highly significant. Indian Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Research; December 2018: Vol. www.ijbamr. com P ISSN: 2250 Figure 1(a): Bar graph showing comparison of Mean FEV users) and Group 1B (Post Figure 1(b): Bar graph showing comparison of Mean FVCof subjects in Group users) and Group 1B (Post 0 1 2 3