Respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function and thoracoabdominal expansion in older adults and its relation with nutritional status

ABSTRACT This study aimed at describing Respiratory Muscle Strength, Pulmonary Function and Thoracoabdominal Expansion and associating its relation with nutritional status. It is an observational, cross-sectional study with 50 older adults of both sexes, aged between 60 and 84 years, with no previous diagnosis of respiratory pathologies, invited through local media. It have been evaluated maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressures, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), thoracoabdominal cirtometry and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, body mass index – BMI –, and nutritional status). Values obtained from MIP, MEP, FVC, and FEV1 were lower than the values intended for this population (p<0.05) as well as measurements for the thoracoabdominal expansion. Regarding nutritional status, 10 older adults were classified as malnourished, 24 as eutrophic, and 16 as obese. Values of respiratory parameters showed no association with nutritional status (p> 0.05). It was concluded that aging influenced the respiratory parameters evaluated in this study group. Nutritional status, on the other hand, did not influence measures of respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, intra-abdominal expansion.