Diffusing Lung Capacity in Swimmers and Non-swimmers - A Comparative Study
586-589
Correspondence
Sugapriya.G
Department of Physiology, SRM Medical college Hospital
and Research center Kattankulathur
Background: The main function of the lung is gas exchange, which can be assessed in several ways. A spirometer measures the flow and the volumes of the inspired and the expired air, but it does not provide information about the gas exchange. Taking an arterial blood gas sample is the most simple method which can be used to assess the pulmonary gas exchange.
Aims and objectives: To compare the diffusing lung capacity among swimmers and non-swimmers and to test the hypothesis that the ventilatory drive is modified by swimming.
Materials and methods: In this study, 20 subjects who were aged between 19-35 years, with 2-5 years of swimming experience were selected and 20 controls who were in the same age group, at the SRM Medical College were included after obtaining the institutional ethical clearance and their consent. An ‘Easy one pro Spiro meter’ was used to find out their diffusing lung capacities.
Results: The parameters were analyzed statistically by using the Students ‘t’-test. There was no significant difference in the age, weight, height and the BMI between the swimmers and the non-swimmers. But there was a significant difference in the mean and the standard deviation of the diffusing lung capacity parameter. The mean and the standard deviation of the swimmers and the non-swimmers were (23.17±6.575) and (14.72±2.912), with a p-value of <0.000, which was more significant.
Conclusion: The results showed a significant difference in the diffusing lung capacity in the swimmers as compared to the non-swimmers, since the O2 utilization for the muscle was higher in the swimmers. The swimmers had a greater diffusing lung capacity than the non-swimmers, probably due to an increase in the number of alveoli, which acted as a predictor of their performance.