Effect of Acute Exercise on Pulmonary Function in Young Adults with Anaemia: A Quasi-experimental Study

Introduction: Anaemia is a condition in which the Haemoglobin (Hb) level in the blood is below the reference range for age and gender. In India, mild anaemia is commonly found among medical students. Exercise capacity is limited by the ability to deliver oxygen to the muscles, and anaemia can impair this process by weakening the respiratory muscles, thus reducing pulmonary function. Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs), combined with bicycle exercise testing, are useful for detecting occult cardiorespiratory limitations. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of anaemia among firstyear medical students and to study the effect of exercise on pulmonary function in individuals with anaemia. Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted in the Research laboratory of the Physiology Department, at Eastpoint College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (EPCMSRC), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India between December 2023 and April 2024. The sample size was 136 with male and female, aged 18-23 years. Based on the level of Hb concentration, the participants were divided into a Normal group and an Anaemia group. After 10 minutes, PFT parameters, including Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC ratio, and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) were recorded using a spirometer. Following this, exercise testing was performed using a bicycle ergometer (INCO). PFT was recorded again immediately after exercise and compared. An independent sample t-test was used to find differences between the groups, while a paired t-test was used to compare pre- and post-exercise values within each group. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The prevalence of anaemia was found to be 22.1%, with significantly lower PFT parameters observed in the anaemic group compared to the normal group before exercise (p<0.05). However, no significant changes in the parameters were noted after exercise in either group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Approximately, 22.1% of participants had anaemia. There was no significant change in pulmonary function after exercise in either the normal or anaemic group