Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength changes are related to a functional capacity change in hospitalized patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Background: Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have to worsen of functional capacity during hospitalization. However, it is not known whether the respiratory muscle strength is related to functional capacity. Objective: We hypothesized that functional capacity change is correlated to respiratory muscle strength changes in patients during hospitalization for HSCT. Methods: This is a prospective, observational study. Thirty one patients (18 males; 45 years) hospitalized for HSCT were eligible for this study. Respiratory muscle strength (Maximal Inspiratory Pressure - MIP and Maximal Expiratory Pressure - MEP; MVD300 Globalmed®) and functional capacity (6-Minute Step Test – 6MST) were assessed at admission (before HSCT) and hospital discharge (after HSCT). The delta values (discharge minus admission hospital) were subjected to a simple linear regression (P Results: Patients were submitted to autologous (94%) or allogeneic (6%) HSCT and the majority have diagnosis of Hodgkin´s (22%) or Non-Hodgkin´s Lymphoma (19%) or Multiple Myeloma (48%). As expected, MIP (Δ MIP = 4,5 cmH2O; CI95% = -2,6 – 11,7 cmH2O) and MEP (Δ MEP = -3,9 cmH2O; CI95% = -11,0 – 3,0 cmH2O) were related to 6MST (Δ 6MST = -2,8 cmH2O; CI95% = -13,2 – 7,4 cmH2O) (MIP vs. 6MST: P=0.03, R=0.39; MEP vs. 6MST: P=0.02, R=0.41). Conclusions: The modifications observed in the functional capacity are related to the respiratory muscle strength changes in hospitalized patients undergoing HSCT.