Body build of children and adolescents with bronchial asthma
Sadowska, L.; Waliszko, A.; Lewandowska, J.; Domanasiewicz, M.; Pejcz, J.; Rodziewicz, B.
Pediatria Polska 61(11): 709-716
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-3939 PMID: 3588103 Document Number: 279729
Using measurements of 10 anthropometric features in 667 children (391 boys and 276 girls) in the years 1978-1980 the body built was compared in asthmatic children and in healthy children (from small towns in Poland) studied in the years (1977-1978, from Poznan studied in 1971-1972, and from Wroclaw born in 1953 and studies in the years 1961-1972. Body built was determined using quotient indices characterizing: 1) proportions of longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the body to height, 2) mutual proportions of these longitudinal and transverse dimensions determining body shape, 3) weight-height proportions (taking into account the geometrical difference of the measurements of body mas and height. On the basis of these measurements the asthmatic children were characterized. Differences were revealed in the body built of asthmatic children in the shape of the trunk and chest. The shape of the trunk was more triangular, and the chest had barrel shape in either sex. These changes were present over the whole range of years between the age of 7 and 18 years, and were more pronounced in boys. A similar trend as the above differences between asthmatic and healthy children was found in the secular changes observed in recent decades in the Polish population. They were, however, less pronounced than the above differences between asthmatic and healthy children living in the same time period.