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Relationship between lung function and physical performance in disabled older women.
Crystal F Simpson1, Naresh M Punjabi, Linda Wolfenden
1MHS, Center on Aging and Health and Division of Geriatric Medicine, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicne, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. cfsimpson@jhmi.edu
Summary
Reduced lung function, specifically lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), is linked to slower walking speed and increased self-reported physical disability in older women.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pulmonology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Understanding the link between lung function and physical performance is crucial for developing interventions to reduce disability in older women.
- This study investigates the association between lung function and physical performance in community-dwelling disabled older women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association of lung function (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC) with objective and self-reported physical performance in disabled older women.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 1002 disabled women (aged >= 65) from the Women's Health and Aging Study I.
- Spirometry measured FEV1 and FVC in 840 participants.
- Multivariate and logistic regression analyses assessed associations with walking time and self-reported physical performance, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- Decreased FEV1 was independently associated with increased time to walk 4 meters and higher odds of self-reported physical performance disability.
- For every 100 ml decrease in FEV1, walking time increased by 0.15 seconds.
- FVC also showed associations with physical performance, while FEV1/FVC was linked to objective but not subjective performance.
Conclusions:
- Reduced lung function is independently associated with declines in both objective and self-reported physical performance in disabled older women.
- These findings highlight the importance of respiratory health for maintaining physical function in this population.