Correlation of respiratory muscle strength with anthropometric measures and physical activity level in adults in primary care

ABSTRACT This study aimed to correlate respiratory muscle strength with anthropometric measures and physical activity level in adults in primary care. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a basic health unit with individuals of both genders aged 18 years or older. Respiratory muscle strength was analyzed by maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressures using a manovacuometer. Values above 80% of the predicted were considered normal. Anthropometric data was obtained using a mechanical scale, stadiometer, and measuring tape, namely: body mass index (BMI); neck (NC), waist (WC), and hip (HC) circumference; waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body adiposity index (BAI). Physical activity level was determined by the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), where individuals were categorized into sedentary, irregularly active A, irregularly active B, active, or very active. The instrument also estimated the achieved metabolic equivalents (MET). Our study sample comprised 110 adults (78.1% female; 51.9±12.3 years) with 96.3 ± 32.4% MIP and 98.9 ± 27.3 % MEP in relation to the predicted. The %MIP showed a weak correlation with BAI (r=0.23; p=0.01) and HC (r=0.20; p=0.03), and %MEP with BMI (r=0.26; p 0.05) with the estimated MET. Respiratory muscle strength of adults in primary care showed a weak correlation with BMI, HC, and BAI, and no correlation with physical activity level.