Cough Peak Flow of Independent Elderly People

Yoshihiro Yamashina,Emiko Morita,Hiroto Honda,Yosuke Yamato,Tomoko Hirayama,Kazuyuki Tabira,Sho Kumabe,Nami Sakagami,Masahiro Goto,Shigeru Terada,Yumi Fukuyama,Hiroki Aoyama

doi:10.4236/ape.2020.104028

Yoshihiro Yamashina, Emiko Morita + Show 10 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/ape.2020.104028

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Abstract

Introduction:This study aimed to investigate the cough strength and respiratory function as well as the factors affecting the cough strength of independent elderly people. Methods and Results: A total of 36 elderly people participated in this experiment, and two subjects with hypertension were excluded. All subjects were evaluated for vital capacity (VC), cough peak flow (CPF), and respiratory muscle strength by determination of the maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure (PImax and PEmax, respectively) in a sitting position. Each measurement consisted of three trials, and the maximum values were adopted for the analysis. The average value of CPF was 291.5 ± 100.5 L/min. Moreover, 17 out of the 34 subjects had CPF P —0.64, P —0.40, P Conclusion: Elderly people who independently perform their activities of daily living do not always have high coughing ability and may have reduced VC associated with reduced coughing ability.

Highlights

This study aimed to investigate the cough strength and respiratory function as well as the factors affecting the cough strength of independent elderly people
All subjects were evaluated for vital capacity (VC), cough peak flow (CPF), and respiratory muscle strength by determination of the maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure (PImax and maximum expiratory pressure (PEmax), respectively) in a sitting position
A significant positive correlation was found between CPF and VC (r = 0.53, P < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the cough strength and respiratory function as well as the factors affecting the cough strength of independent elderly people. All subjects were evaluated for vital capacity (VC), cough peak flow (CPF), and respiratory muscle strength by determination of the maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure (PImax and PEmax, respectively) in a sitting position. No significant correlation was found between respiratory muscle strength (inspiratory muscle strength and expiratory muscle strength) and CPF. Pneumonia has accounted for a large percentage of deaths in the elderly (Zalacain & Torres, 2004; Higuchi et al, 2007). Prevention of pneumonia is important for maintaining health in independently living elderly people (Takeda et al, 2004; Graton & Grossman, 1993)

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