Analysis of Pulmonary Function and Serum Progesterone Level during Pregnancy: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Aim and objective: Pregnancy is often accompanied by physiological variations, especially variations in the respiratory function. However, there is insufficient information regarding the association of hormonal changes and pulmonary function tests in different trimesters of pregnancy. Hence This was aimed to assess the effects of progesterone levels on the lung function of pregnant women. Materials and methods: A total of 150 pregnant women comprising 50 women in each of the 3 trimesters of pregnancy were recruited for this study to compare the lung function variations across the trimesters. Both dynamic and static pulmonary function tests were measured. Serum progesterone and blood hemoglobin levels were also estimated. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test. Tukey's HSD and Dunn's test were used as post hoc tests. p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Variations in the lung functions were observed across all the trimesters of pregnancy. Among the dynamic lung function tests, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR, p = 0.0043) and forced expiratory flow (FEF, p = 0.0151) were significant in the first trimester. PEFR (p = 0.0047) and FEF (p = 0.016) were significant in the second trimester. Among the static lung function tests, maximum voluntary ventilation (p = 0.0003) was a significant variable in the second trimester. Progesterone levels were significant in all the 3 trimesters of pregnancy (p < 0.0001) and were associated with increased gestational age. In contrast, hemoglobin levels were insignificant throughout pregnancy (p = 0.8548). Conclusion: The progesterone levels did not have any significant association with the pulmonary function test during gestation. Clinical significance: The chronic respiratory diseases ranked third most cause and in order to evaluate any respiratory ailment during pregnancy, an accurate knowledge of the physiological changes in pulmonary functions during normal pregnancy is necessary.