Reliability and acceptability of measuring sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) and peak inspiratory flow (PIF) to assess respiratory muscle strength in older adults: a preliminary study

Older adults’ participation in habitual exercise might be affected by alterations to respiratory mechanics such as decreased respiratory-muscle strength. This reduction can cause a decrease in efficiency of the ventilatory pump, potentially compromising exercise participation. This research examined the role of habitual exercise in respiratory-muscle function and the associated implications for exercise performance. Seventy-two healthy older adults (36 men, 64.9 ± 8.6 years, 177.2 ± 8.4 cm, 82.5 ± 11.9 kg; 36 women, 64.9 ± 9.5 years, 161.7 ± 6.4 cm, 61.6 ± 9.2 kg) undertook respiratory-function and walking-performance tests. Active men and women achieved higher scores than their inactive counterparts for all tests except spirometry, where no differences were evident. The results indicate that a significant amount of the elevated fitness level might be accounted for by increased endurance capacity of the inspiratory muscles. Inactive older individuals might be at risk for inadequate respiratory-muscle strength, so interventions should be considered.

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Effect of Tobacco Smoke Exposure on Functional Capacity, Respiratory Muscle Strength, and Physical Activity Level in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Preliminary Study

Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences ◽

10.30621/jbachs.2020.1247 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Buse Ozcan Kahraman ◽

Aylin Tanriverdi ◽

Ismail Ozsoy ◽

Serap Acar ◽

Can Sevinc ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Tobacco Smoke ◽

Respiratory Muscle ◽

Activity Level ◽

Tobacco Smoke Exposure ◽

Respiratory Muscle Strength ◽

Pulmonary Arterial ◽

Preliminary Study

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Natural History of Respiratory Muscle Strength in Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Prospective National Cohort Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-742225/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Esther S Veldhoen ◽

Camiel A Wijngaarde ◽

Erik H.J. Hulzebos ◽

Roelie W Wosten-van Asperen ◽

Renske I Wadman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Natural History ◽

Spinal Muscular Atrophy ◽

Respiratory Muscle ◽

Muscular Atrophy ◽

Inspiratory Pressure ◽

Respiratory Muscle Strength ◽

Treatment Naïve ◽

National Cohort

Abstract Background: Respiratory complications are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Respiratory muscle weakness results in impaired cough, recurrent respiratory tract infections and finally respiratory failure. We assessed longitudinal patterns of measurements of respiratory muscle strength in a national cohort of treatment-naïve children and adults with SMA, hypothesizing a continued decline of respiratory muscle strength parameters throughout life. Methods: We measured Maximal Expiratory and Inspiratory Pressure (PEmax and PImax), Sniff Nasal Inspiratory Pressure (SNIP), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), and Peak Cough Flow (PCF) in treatment-naïve patients. We used both cross-sectional and longitudinal data in mixed-models to analyze natural history patterns. Results: We included 2756 measurements of respiratory muscle function from 80 treatment-naïve patients with SMA types 1c-3b. Both PEmax and PImax were significantly lower in more severe phenotypes. SNIP was low in nearly all patients, most pronounced in more severely affected patients. PEmax was low from early childhood onwards in patients with SMA type 1c–3a. PEF decline below 80% of predicted values was observed in early childhood in SMA types 1c-2 and in adolescence in patients with type 3a. Annual decline was linear (1-2%/year). All but type 3b patients had lowered PCF. Patients with types 2b and 3a had PCF levels between 160 and 270L/min, those with type 2a around 160L/min and patients with type 1c well below 160L/min. Conclusions: There are clear differences in respiratory muscle strength and its progressive decline between SMA types. We observed lower outcomes in more severe SMA types. Particularly PEmax and PEF may be suitable outcome measures for follow-up of patients with SMA. PEmax had the highest discriminative capacity and PEF declined in a rather linear pattern in all SMA types. PEmax was even low in patients with normal lung volumes. These natural history data may serve as a reference for longer-term treatment efficacy assessments.

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