Relationship Between Functional and Breathing Abilities in Institutionalized Elderly: A Cohort Study

Abstract

Aging is a natural process with a wide range of profiles, and its changes can be physiological or pathological, even if people have the same chronological age. Here, we analyze the relationship between functional and respiratory capacities in institutionalized elderly. This research is defined as a cross-sectional, descriptive, prospective study, with a quantitative approach, carried out at the Shelter Unit for the Elderly in Fortaleza. The study consisted of 26 institutionalized elderly people able to participate in the sample. We identified that male participants predominated in this study, with an average age of 74 years with a history of smoking and alcoholism, where the majority did not undergo physical therapy. The average execution time of the Timed Up and Go Test was 18.2 seconds. When analyzing the difference in the cirtometry means, a variation was found for the axillary, xiphoid and umbilical measurements. Mean of inspiratory muscle strength of 35.2 cmH2O and expiratory 51.4 cm H2O were evaluated. When evaluating the quality of life, the physical domain was detected as the greatest value. It is concluded that the variation in functional capacity and mobility through the TUG has no correlation with the respiratory capacity assessed through cirtometry and manovacuometry.