RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION AND AIM OF THE STUDY: To document abnormalities on spirometry in patients with type1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and to study the determinants of these. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty nine patients attending the type 1 DM clinic underwent spirometry. The absolute FEV1 and FVC were compared with the predicted ones and expressed as a percentage of the predicted. Additional information collected included gender, age, weight, height and the latest glycated hemoglobin. Data were presented as mean±SD.χ2 test was used to study differences in proportions and Pearson's coefficient was calculated for correlations. RESULTS: Twenty patients (51.2%) had pulmonary function abnormalities, of which 17 patients had a restrictive pattern on spirometry and 3 had an obstructive pattern. Of all the patients, 45.8% were stunted, i.e. had the height SDS <-2 SD while 25.7% were extremely stunted (height SDS < -3). Sevenof 9 (77.8%) patients with extreme stunting (Ht SDS <-3) had restrictive ventilatory disturbances, whereas only 8 of 26 (30.7%) persons with Ht SDS above -3 had the same (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Spirometric abnormalities are common in type 1 DM and stunting is a significant determinant of the same.