Avaliação da força muscular respiratória de idosos internados no Hospital Universitário de Lagarto- SE (HUL)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Aging is marked by several functional and structural changes. Among these changes, there is a reduction in overall strength, including respiratory muscle strength. Thus, it is important to investigate this relationship of aging with respiratory muscle function to identify more effective therapies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate respiratory muscle strength in elderly hospitalized at the Lagarto University Hospital. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 36 elderly men and women, hospitalized in the medical clinic of the Hospital Universitário de Lagarto-Se. A manual grip test, calf circumference measurement, body mass index (BMI) and gait velocity test (TVM). Statistical analysis was performed using mean ± standard deviation and Pearson correlations among the variables in the GraphpadPrism 6.0 program. The p <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The sample included elderly individuals aged 73 ± 1.5 years and mean days of hospitalization of 14.7 ± 1.4. Of the patients evaluated, 52.8% had reduced respiratory muscle strength, as assessed by MEP and MEP. Moderate correlations were observed between the inspiratory pressure (Pimax) and D dynamometry (r = -0.641) indicators, as well as the maximum expiratory pressure (Pemax) and D dynamometry (r = 0.631) indicators. All with p <0.05. CONCLUSÃO: Foi observado redução da força muscular respiratória nos indivíduos avaliados, além das correlações entre as variáveis, principalmente entre força muscular respiratória e força muscular periférica, tendo em vista as alterações decorrentes do envelhecimento.