Ethnic differences in Cardiorespiratory Variables among Igbo and Yoruba Young Female Adults resident in Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the pulse rate, blood pressure, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow rate, rate pressure product, maximum oxygen consumption, weight, height, body mass index and body surface area between young female adults of Igbo and Yoruba with a view to determining the similarities or differences in the cardiorespiratory variables. One hundred (50 Yoruba and 50 Igbo) subjects aged between 18-30 years participated in the study. The weight and height of the subjects were obtained using standard procedures while BMI and BSA were calculated as derivatives of height and weight. The subjects were asked to sit down for 3 minutes and resting cardiorespiratory parameters (pulse rate, blood pressure, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and peak expiratory flow rate) were obtained with the sphygmomanometer and spirometer. They were then subjected to 3 minutes of exercise on a step bench while the metronome was set at 88 and 96 beats per minutes. The aforementioned variables were measured. There were no differences in pre and post exercise pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, peak expiratory flow rate, rate pressure product and maximum oxygen consumption of Igbo when compared with Yoruba. Similarly, the weight, height, body mass index and body surface area of Igbo were not significantly from that of Yoruba.

In conclusion, the similarities in cardiorespiratory variables in both ethnic groups may be due to similarities seen in the anthropometric measurements.