Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
Relationship between Eating and Digestive Symptoms and Respiratory Function in Advanced Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Jang Woo Lee1,2, Hyun Jun Oh3, Won Ah Choi3,4
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
Background:
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients can have various issues that affect their quality of life, including eating and digestive conditions.
Objective:
We sought to identify the relationship between respiratory function and various eating and digestion related symptoms in patients with advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Methods:
Eating and digestive symptoms, including loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, swallowing difficulty, mastication difficulty, early satiety, and aspiration, were evaluated among patients with advanced DMD who were nonambulatory and required noninvasive mechanical ventilatory support. In addition, various respiratory function parameters were measured, including forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal insufflation capacity (MIC), peak cough flow (PCF), assisted PCF (APCF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). We then analyzed the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and respiratory function parameters.
Results:
A total of 180 patients (age, 22.3±5.0 years) were included in the analysis. Loss of appetite and early satiety showed no correlation with any of the respiratory function parameters. Constipation was correlated with MEP; swallowing difficulty was correlated with MIC, APCF, MIP and MEP; and mastication difficulty was correlated with FVC, PCF, APCF, MIP, and MEP. Notably, age did not correlate with any gastrointestinal symptoms.
Conclusions:
Eating and digestive symptoms are more closely correlated with respiratory function than with age in patients with DMD. We think this correlation is mainly caused by the skeletal muscle strength, which is major determinant of both digestive and respiratory function.
More Related Videos
03:25Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Chronic Respiratory Diseases — Linking Intestinal Microbiome Insights to COPD Treatment
Published on: December 27, 2024
08:30Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance Test, Measurement of Lung Function, and Fixation of the Lung to Study the Impact of Obesity and Impaired Metabolism on Pulmonary Outcomes
Published on: March 15, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:30Respiratory System Abnormal Finding I: Inspection and Percussion
Inspection Findings
During an inspection, several findings may suggest the presence of respiratory distress or disease. Pursed-lip breathing, where exhalation is slowed by...
01:30Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
01:27Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration...
01:25Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like...
01:29Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease II: Clinical Features and Management
Clinical Manifestations
GERD presents itself in a multitude of ways, with symptoms varying from person to person. The hallmark symptoms are...