Association between respiratory capacity, quality of life and cognitive function in elderly individuals

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate associations between respiratory capacity, quality of life and cognitive function in elderly individuals. Methods The sample included 386 elderly individuals (232 women). Respiratory capacity assessment was based on maximal expiratory pressure measured at peak expiratory flow. Subjects were classified according to peak expiratory flow values adjusted for sex, age and height of individuals with normal (peak expiratory flow curve <80% and >60%) or reduced (peak expiratory flow curve < 60%) respiratory capacity. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Mini-Mental State Examination were used to assess quality of life and cognitive function, respectively. Results Elderly women with reduced respiratory capacity scored lower on the Mini-Mental State Examination (p=0.048) and quality of life questionnaire (p=0.040) compared to those with normal respiratory capacity. These differences were not observed in men (p>0.05). Conclusion Reduced respiratory capacity was associated with poorer quality of life and cognitive function in elderly women. These associations were not observed in elderly men.

摘要 目的：探讨老年人群呼吸功能、生存质量与认知功能之间的关联。方法：本研究纳入386名老年受试者，其中女性232名。呼吸功能评估以峰流速（peak expiratory flow）下测得的最大呼气压力（maximal expiratory pressure）为依据。根据按性别、年龄及身高校正的峰流速数值，将受试者分为两组：呼吸功能正常组（峰流速曲线值介于60%~80%之间）与呼吸功能降低组（峰流速曲线值<60%）。分别采用世界卫生组织生存质量测定量表（World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire）与简易精神状态检查表（Mini-Mental State Examination）评估受试者的生存质量与认知功能。结果：与呼吸功能正常的老年女性相比，呼吸功能降低的老年女性在简易精神状态检查表（p=0.048）与生存质量问卷（p=0.040）中的得分均更低；上述差异在男性受试者中未观测到（p>0.05）。结论：老年女性的呼吸功能降低与较差的生存质量及认知功能存在关联，该关联未在老年男性群体中观测到。