Objective: To illustrate which gender differences are present in pulmonary function tests (PFT) after stress application in healthy adults.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. A total of 61 healthy adults between the age of 18-40 years were included in the study. Oxygen saturation, pulse, BP and PFTs were performed both before and after the stress induction via the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT).
Results: Between males and females after stress induction, there was significant difference in oxygen saturation (p=0.046), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (p=0.19), Force Expiratory Volume (FEV%) (p=0.043) and Forced Expiratory Flow (FEF 75) (p=0.049). The value of significant Post stress variable i.e., FEF 75 post-stress was higher for males (p=0.049). Healthy young females had higher oxygen saturation and FEV% than males. A gender-based difference also was observed between SBP, with males having a higher SBP.
Conclusion: There is gender-based differences in PFTs after 6-Minute Walk Test in the healthy adult population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. FEV% and FEF 75 were the two pulmonary function parameters which showed difference between healthy males and females.
Key words: 6-Minute Walk test, pulmonary function tests, gender, stress, adults.
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