Relationship between respiratory muscle strength and age in elderly sixty to ninety years old

Abstract

The purpose of this study were to compare the respiratory muscle strength (RMS) among apparently healthy elderly people and verify if there is relationship between the RMS and age in this population. The participants were 60 elderly with age between 60 and 90 years, separated into two groups: men (n = 30) and women (n = 30). Each group was divided into three subgroups according to age: 60 to 69 years, 70 to 79 years and 80 to 90 years. All were submitted to manovacuometry test for determination of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). The values of maximal respiratory pressures (MRP) were compared among subgroups in each group, moreover, correlation analysis was applied between age and MRP values. The level of significance was p < 0,05. Were found significantly lower values of MIP and MEP of the subgroup of 70-79 years in relation to 80-90 years subgroup; of 60-69 years subgroup in relation to 70-79 years subgroup, as in relation to 80-90 years subgroup, in both groups (men and women). Significant and negative correlations were observed in both groups between age and MIP (males: R = -0,83, females: R = -0,86) and between age and MEP (males: R = -0,88, females: R = -0,86). In conclusion, the RMS decrease with age in elderly 60 to 90 years and there is strong relationship between age and RMS in this population.