Duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus and pulmonary function tests: a correlative study

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) encompasses a group of metabolic disorders characterized by elevated levels of plasma glucose leading to macro- and micro-vascular damages to target organs. According to IDF, India had 73 million population of diabetes in 2017, and this figure may rise to 134 million adults by 2045 International Diabetes Federation, 2017 . Since the alveolar capillary network in the lung is a large micro-vascular unit, microangiopathy may be targeting lungs along with other organs. Objective To correlate pulmonary function tests with duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Method The cross-sectional study was conducted on one hundred six patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Diabetic cases were categorized on the basis of duration of disease. RMS Helios 401 computerized spirometer was used to assess pulmonary functions. Statistical tests employed include t test, ANOVA, and correlation coefficient analysis. Result The mean duration of disease for patients with diabetes was 10.17 ± 5.16 year. There was a significant negative correlation between the parameters of lung function test ( p value < 0.05) with duration of diabetes. Conclusion We found that pulmonary functions have inverse relationship with increase in duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus.