Relationship between lung function and grip strength in older hospitalised patients: a pilot study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Older people with reduced respiratory muscle strength may be misclassified as having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on the basis of spirometric results. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between lung function and grip strength in older hospitalised patients without known airways disease.
METHOD: Patients on acute medical wards were recruited who were aged ≥ 70 years; no history, symptoms or signs of respiratory disease; Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) ≥24; willing and able to consent to participate; able to perform hand grip and forced spirometry. Data including lung function (Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), Forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and slow vital capacity (SVC)); grip strength, age, weight and height were recorded. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression unadjusted and adjusted (for age, height, weight).
RESULTS: 50 patients (20 men) were recruited. Stronger grip strength in men was significantly associated with greater FEV1 but this was attenuated by adjustment for age, height and weight. Significant positive associations were found in women between grip strength and both PEFR and SVC, both of which remained robust to adjustment.
CONCLUSION: The association between grip strength and PEFR and SVC may reflect stronger patients generating higher intra-thoracic pressure at the start of spirometry and pushing harder against thoracic cage recoil at end-expiration. Conversely patients with weaker grip strength had lower PEFR and SVC. These patients may be misclassified as having COPD on the basis of spirometric results.

Keywords: older; grip strength; spirometry; PEFR; SVC.

More information

Identifiers

ORCID for Helen Roberts: orcid.org/0000-0002-5291-1880

Catalogue record

Export record

Altmetrics