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Kaneko H1
1International University Health and Welfare, Okawa, Japan
Background: Lung function is an important predictor of cardiovascular, respiratory, and all-cause mortality. Several studies have demonstrated that physical performance, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behavior (SB) are associated with respiratory function in older adults. However, most of these studies have assessed PA and SB using self-report questionnaires, rather than objective measures. Therefore, further investigation of the association of respiratory function with physical performance, PA, and SB in older adults is warranted.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the preliminarily association of respiratory function with physical performance, PA, and SB in older adults using accelerometers.
Methods: Community-dwelling older adults (n = 62) aged ≥65 years (mean: 78 ± 6 years, 25 males and 37 females) were included in this study. Those with lung diseases, neurological diseases, airflow limitation, obesity, and cognitive disorders were excluded. Lung function [forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)] and respiratory muscle strength [maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP)] were measured to assess respiratory function using a portable spirometer and mouth pressure meter according to the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines. Physical performance was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and 30-second chair stand (30s-CS) tests. PA and SB were measured using a tri-axial accelerometer, which recorded PA in metabolic equivalents (METs) for 10 s epochs (minimum 7 consecutive days). Locomotive and non-locomotive moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; ≥3 METs), steps (steps/day), and sedentary time (%; time ≤ 1.5 METs of non-locomotive PA/wear time) were calculated. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the associations of the variables of respiratory function with TUG, 30s-CS, locomotive and non-locomotive MVPA, steps, and sedentary time following adjustment for sex and age (plus height for FVC) as the possible confounders.
Results: Mean values of FVC, FEV1, MIP, MEP, TUG, and 30s-CS of the participants were 2.41 L, 1.83 L, 53.3 cmH2O, 78.7 cmH2O, 7.3 s, and 18.3 repetitions, respectively. The mean values of steps, locomotive MVPA, non-locomotive MVPA, and sedentary time were 4,093 steps, 1.1 METs h/day, 2.9 METs h/day, and 57.6%, respectively. 30s-CS, non-locomotive PA, and sedentary time were independently associated with MIP (β = 0.22, p 0.05), MEP (β = 0.22, p 0.05), and FVC (β = −0.16, p 0.05), respectively. No significant independent associations between FEV1 and variables of physical performance, PA, and SB were identified.
Conclusion(s): Sedentary time, 30s-CS, and non-locomotive MVPA were independently associated with FVC, MIP, and MEP, respectively, in ambulatory, community-dwelling older adults without airflow limitation. The findings of this study suggest that lung volumes and respiratory muscle strength may be differently affected by physical performance, PA, and SB.
Implications: Our findings regarding the associations of respiratory function with physical performance, PA, and SB may assist older adults in preventing or delaying deterioration in lung volume and respiratory muscle strength, consequently prolonging a healthy lifestyle.
Keywords: Respiratory function, physical activity, older adults
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JPTS KAKENHI Grant number JP17K01792).
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the preliminarily association of respiratory function with physical performance, PA, and SB in older adults using accelerometers.
Methods: Community-dwelling older adults (n = 62) aged ≥65 years (mean: 78 ± 6 years, 25 males and 37 females) were included in this study. Those with lung diseases, neurological diseases, airflow limitation, obesity, and cognitive disorders were excluded. Lung function [forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)] and respiratory muscle strength [maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP)] were measured to assess respiratory function using a portable spirometer and mouth pressure meter according to the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines. Physical performance was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and 30-second chair stand (30s-CS) tests. PA and SB were measured using a tri-axial accelerometer, which recorded PA in metabolic equivalents (METs) for 10 s epochs (minimum 7 consecutive days). Locomotive and non-locomotive moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; ≥3 METs), steps (steps/day), and sedentary time (%; time ≤ 1.5 METs of non-locomotive PA/wear time) were calculated. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the associations of the variables of respiratory function with TUG, 30s-CS, locomotive and non-locomotive MVPA, steps, and sedentary time following adjustment for sex and age (plus height for FVC) as the possible confounders.
Results: Mean values of FVC, FEV1, MIP, MEP, TUG, and 30s-CS of the participants were 2.41 L, 1.83 L, 53.3 cmH2O, 78.7 cmH2O, 7.3 s, and 18.3 repetitions, respectively. The mean values of steps, locomotive MVPA, non-locomotive MVPA, and sedentary time were 4,093 steps, 1.1 METs h/day, 2.9 METs h/day, and 57.6%, respectively. 30s-CS, non-locomotive PA, and sedentary time were independently associated with MIP (β = 0.22, p 0.05), MEP (β = 0.22, p 0.05), and FVC (β = −0.16, p 0.05), respectively. No significant independent associations between FEV1 and variables of physical performance, PA, and SB were identified.
Conclusion(s): Sedentary time, 30s-CS, and non-locomotive MVPA were independently associated with FVC, MIP, and MEP, respectively, in ambulatory, community-dwelling older adults without airflow limitation. The findings of this study suggest that lung volumes and respiratory muscle strength may be differently affected by physical performance, PA, and SB.
Implications: Our findings regarding the associations of respiratory function with physical performance, PA, and SB may assist older adults in preventing or delaying deterioration in lung volume and respiratory muscle strength, consequently prolonging a healthy lifestyle.
Keywords: Respiratory function, physical activity, older adults
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JPTS KAKENHI Grant number JP17K01792).
Topic: Older people; Older people; Cardiorespiratory
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: International University of Health and Welfare
Ethics committee: Ethics committee of International University of Health and Welfare
Ethics number: 17-Ifh-02
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
