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Brief communication: Respiratory function is closely associated with basal metabolic rate in elderly persons
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University, Inchon, Korea. jwchoi@inha.ac.kr
Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science
|March 25, 2004
Summary
Respiratory function, including forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), is strongly linked to basal metabolic rate (BMR) in elderly individuals. This association is more pronounced in men and appears stronger than correlations with body composition metrics.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
- Respiratory Physiology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is a key indicator of metabolic function, influenced by various physiological factors.
- Respiratory function, assessed by pulmonary indices, plays a role in overall physiological health, particularly in aging populations.
- Understanding the interplay between metabolic rate and respiratory capacity is crucial for geriatric health assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between key respiratory function indices and basal metabolic rate (BMR) in elderly individuals.
- To compare the strength of association between respiratory function and BMR versus body composition metrics (lean body mass, waist-to-hip ratio).
- To explore potential sex-based differences in the relationship between respiratory function and BMR in the elderly.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 251 elderly participants.
- Measurement of pulmonary function indices, specifically forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), using spirometry.
- Assessment of basal metabolic rate (BMR) using a body composition analyzer.
Main Results:
- In elderly men, FVC and FEV1 showed stronger correlations with BMR (r = 0.48, r = 0.43) than with lean body mass or waist-to-hip ratio.
- Elderly men with higher BMR (≥1390 kcal/day) exhibited significantly higher average FVC and FEV1 values and a greater prevalence of elevated respiratory function.
- No significant associations between BMR thresholds and respiratory function were observed in postmenopausal women.
Conclusions:
- Respiratory function, particularly FVC and FEV1, is more closely associated with BMR in elderly individuals than with body composition parameters.
- The association between respiratory function and BMR is significantly stronger in elderly men compared to elderly women.
- These findings highlight the importance of assessing respiratory function in relation to metabolic status for understanding health in aging men.