One in three Delhiites tested has bad lungs

Nearly 35% people living in Delhi — one in every three Delhi residents tested — cannot breathe properly, shows preliminary report from on-spot lung function tests

Nearly 35% people living in Delhi — one in every three Delhi residents tested — cannot breathe properly, shows preliminary report from on-spot lung function tests.

Nearly 35% people living in Delhi — one in every three Delhi residents tested — cannot breathe properly, shows preliminary report from on-spot lung function tests

Of the 3,019 Delhiites whose lung functions were tested by the government in the last 15 days, 1,037 — or 34.3% — had impaired lung function, the report said.

Ten vans deputed by the Delhi government — in collaboration with Maulana Azad Medical College —across the city performed spirometry tests on residents who volunteered to take the test. Spirometry is a test which checks the volume of air inhaled and exhaled to judge whether the lungs are functioning healthily.

A score of 90% on the test is ideal with 80% too considered to be normal. But, if the score goes below 70%, the lung function of a person is said to be impaired and he/she could be referred to a nearby hospital for consultation with a pulmonologist.

The researchers, after the 15-day test, found that the highest percent (48.25%) of residents living with impaired lung function belonged from Gokulpuri.

At 42.9%, the percentage of people having impaired lungs at Rajiv Chowk, too, was observed to be higher than the city’s average.

The van at Delhi Secretariat tested 659 people, of which 320 had impaired lung function.

This means as many as 48.5% people coming to the area scored less than 70% on the Spirometry test.