Relationship between pulmonary function and physical performance among community-living people: results from Look-up 7+ study

Associations of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Muscular Endurance Fitness With Pulmonary Function in Physically Active Young Adults

RATIONALE

While the beneficial effects of physical fitness on general health are well-documented, the specific relationship between different types of physical fitness, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular endurance fitness (MEF), and lung function in physically active young adults remains less explored.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the relationship between CRF and MEF, and their correlation with lung function in physically active young adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved a cohort of 1227 physically active young adults without lung diseases. Lung function was assessed using FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC measurements. The 3000-m run was used to assess CRF, and the 2-min push-up and sit-up tests were used to assess MEF. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between these fitness measures and lung function, adjusting for potential covariates.

RESULTS

Enhanced CRF was associated with superior FEV1 and FVC after adjusting for covariates (β=-.078, p=.015 for FEV1; β=-.086, p=.009 for FVC). Push-ups were positively associated with FEV1 (β=.102, p=.014), but not with FVC. In contrast, sit-ups showed no significant correlation with lung function in the fully adjusted model.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated a clear association between improved physical fitness and better lung function in physically active young adults, with various exercises showing distinct associations with lung metrics. Notably, push-ups were particularly associated with higher FEV1. A future prospective study is necessary to determine whether routine exercises, such as push-ups, might lead to greater lung function.

Cognition as mediator of pulmonary function and risk of sarcopenia among older adults

BACKGROUND

The relationship between lung function and sarcopenia remains ambiguous. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between lung function and sarcopenia in the older adults, as well as to examine the mediating role of cognitive function in this relationship.

METHODS

The participants were selected from a nationally representative population-based cohort in China. The peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurement was used to evaluate the lung function in older persons. The sarcopenia was diagnosed using the guidelines of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) in 2019. The Cox proportional hazard model was utilized to perform primary analyses of the relationship between PEF and sarcopenia. The mediating effect of cognitive function was evaluated using the counterfactual mediation method.

RESULTS

This cohort study included 4,011 older adults (average age, 66.6 years; 53.3% males). During a follow-up period of 3.86 years, 349 individuals were diagnosed with sarcopenia. After adjusting for potential confounders, each one-standard-deviation increase in PEF was associated with a 28% reduction in the risk of sarcopenia (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63, 0.80). There was a significant mediation of cognition for the association between PEF and incident sarcopenia, and the proportion mediated was 12.2% (95% CI: 4.5%, 23.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults with impaired lung function are more likely to develop sarcopenia. Nevertheless, cognition can explain only a small portion of this association. Thus, other potential pathways between lung function and sarcopenia must be elucidated.

A simple medical device development according to normative values of calf circumference across ages: results from the Italian Longevity Check-up 7+ (Lookup 7+) project

BACKGROUND

Wide consensus exists on the notion that low muscle mass is a predictor of negative health-related events, such as disability, morbidity, and mortality. Indeed, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 had identified muscle mass as the key component to confirm the diagnosis of sarcopenia. However, the lack of normative values for muscle mass across ages hampers the practical assessment of this important parameter. The aim of the present study was to produce cross-sectional centile and normative values for calf circumference (a surrogate estimation of muscle mass) across a wide spectrum of ages using a large and unselected sample of community-dwellers enrolled in the Longevity Check-up 7+ (Lookup 7+) project.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study using the data of Lookup 7+ project, an ongoing study started in June 2015 and conducted in unconventional settings (i.e., exhibitions, malls, and health promotion campaigns). Candidate participants were considered eligible for enrolment if they were at least 45 years of age and provided written informed consent. Calf circumference was measured using an inextensible but flexible plastic tape in a sitting position with the knee and ankle at a right angle and the feet resting on the floor. Normative values for calf circumference from ages 45 to 80 + years were generated.

RESULTS

A total of 11 814 participants were enrolled from 1 June 2015 to 30 September 2022. The mean age of participants included in the analyses was 61.8 years (standard deviation; 10.2 years; range: 45-98 years), and 6686 (57%) were women. Normative values for calf circumference were obtained for men and women, stratified by age groups. Accordingly, a calf circumference tape, with colour bands that demarcate the centiles range into which the patient falls, was created and validated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study established age- and gender-specific centile reference values for calf circumference. The calf circumference tape can be used to easily interpret the assessment in every-day practice for the early detection of individuals with or at risk of sarcopenia and malnutrition.

Associations of sarcopenia with peak expiratory flow among community-dwelling elderly population: based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS)

PURPOSE

To cross-sectionally and longitudinally investigate the correlations of sarcopenia and its components with peak expiratory flow (PEF) among Chinese community-dwelling elderly people.

METHODS

The data were extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A total of 4053 participants aged ≥ 60 years were enrolled from CHARLS 2011, and 2810 were followed up until 2015. Participants were classified into no-sarcopenia, non-severe sarcopenia, and severe sarcopenia groups based on skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), hand grip strength (HGS), and physical performance [gait speed, five-repetition chair stand test (5CST) and short physical performance battery (SPPB)]. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations of sarcopenia and its components with PEF cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

RESULTS

In the cross-sectional analysis, the prevalence of non-severe sarcopenia was 14.6% and severe sarcopenia was 4.9%. The results of linear regression analysis revealed that sarcopenia and its components were all correlated with PEF and PEF%pred. In the longitudinal analysis, compared with non-sarcopenia, subjects with severe sarcopenia were associated with a higher risk of PEF (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.30-3.26) and PEF%pred (OR = 1.83, 95%CI = 1.17-2.86) decline. The changes in physical performance were correlated with changes in PEF and PEF%pred. No associations were observed between changes in SMI and PEF as well as PEF%pred.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated the associations of baseline sarcopenia status with PEF and longitudinal PEF decline. Also, the changes in physical performance were associated with changes in PEF during a 4-year follow-up. It indicates that improving sarcopenia, especially physical performance may increase PEF.

Association between abdominal muscle stiffness, diaphragm thickness and peak expiratory flow in younger versus older adults

The present study aimed to evaluate forced expiration based on transverse abdominis (TrA) stiffness by identifying the relationship between TrA stiffness and peak expiratory flow (PEF) in both younger and older adults. We also assessed the relationship between diaphragm thickness and PEF. A total of 31 younger (21.24 ± 2.73 years) and 34 older (71.35 ± 5.26 years) adults were included in the present study. TrA muscle stiffness was measured at rest and during abdominal bracing using shear wave elastography. Diaphragm thickness was measured during deep inspiration and expiration using B-mode ultrasound, and respiratory function was assessed by measuring PEF using a spirometer. We found that TrA stiffness during bracing was significantly lower in older than younger adults (p < 0.05). Similarly, the difference in absolute stiffness of the TrA when bracing versus at rest was significantly lower in older than younger adults (p < 0.05). Additionally, TrA stiffness during bracing was positively associated with PEF in the younger group (r = 0.483), while a very weak correlation was found in the older group (r = 0.172). Similarly, PEF was moderately correlated with diaphragm thickness during expiration as well as during changes between inspiration and expiration in the younger group (r = 0.405 and r = 0.403); however, no significant correlation was found in the older group. These findings of the present study indicate that the variations in PEF between younger and older adults may be due to age-associated changes in the musculoskeletal structure and muscle fibre type.

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identify three structural dimensions for measuring physical function in community-dwelling older adults

Background

Physical function is a strong indicator of biological age and quality of life among older adults. However, the results from studies exploring the structural dimensions of physical function are inconsistent, and the measures assessed vary greatly, leading to a lack of comparability among them. This study aimed to construct a model to identify structural dimensions that are suitable and best assess physical function among community-dwelling adults 60-74 years of age in China.

Method

This study was conducted in 11 communities in Shanghai, China, from May to July 2021. A total of 381 adults 60-74 years of age were included in the study. Measured physical function data were used in factor analyses. Data collected from individuals were randomly assigned to either exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 190) or confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n = 191). The statistical software used in the study was SPSS for EFA and AMOS for CFA. To test the properties of the structural dimension model of physical function, various fit indices, convergent validity, and discriminant validity were calculated.

Results

The EFA results derived seven indicators in three factors, with 58.548% of the total variance explained. The three factors were mobility function (three indicators), which explained 26.380% of the variance, handgrip strength and pulmonary function (two indicators), which explained 19.117% of the variance, and muscle strength (two indicators) which explained 13.050% of the variance. The CFA indicated that this model had an acceptable fit (χ2/df ratio, 2.102; GFI, 0.967; IFI, 0.960; CFI, 0.959; and RMSEA, 0.076), and the criteria for convergent validity and discriminability were also met by the model.

Conclusion

The constructed structural dimension model of physical function appeared to be a suitable and reliable tool to measure physical function in community-dwelling adults aged 60-74 years in China. The structural dimension indicators identified by this model may help sports medicine experts and healthcare providers offer more targeted interventions for older adults to reverse or slow the decline of physical function and to offer actionable targets for healthy aging in this population.

Impact of beta blockers on resting respiratory rate in older adults: A cross-sectional study

[Purpose] Beta blockers, commonly prescribed for older adults, affect heart rates and blood pressure and may reduce respiratory rates, which are used to evaluate patient status and predict outcomes. However, limited clinical evidence is available on the impact of beta blockers on respiratory rates. This study aimed to investigate the impact of beta blockers on respiratory rates in older adults. [Methods] This cross-sectional study included patients aged ≥60 years who underwent an annual checkup. Patients were excluded if they had a diagnosis of severe heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial pneumonitis, severe anemia, or neurodegenerative disease. Doubly robust estimation with inverse probability weighting was applied to estimate the mean differences between beta blocker users and non-users. The dose-response relationship between the administered beta blockers and respiratory rates was examined using multivariable regression models. [Results] Of 637 participants, 108 had received beta blockers regularly. The adjusted mean differences (95% confidence interval, CI) in respiratory rates, pulse rates, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure between beta blocker users and non-users were 0.35 (-0.68 to 1.37), -3.56 (-6.34 to -0.78), -5.53 (-8.53 to -2.52), and -4.70 (-8.27 to -1.14), respectively. The adjusted mean differences (95% CI) in respiratory rates per 1 mg of a carvedilol equivalent dose in all beta blocker users, liposoluble beta blocker users, and carvedilol users were -0.10 (-0.18 to -0.02), -0.35 (-0.59 to -0.11), and -0.29 (-0.54 to -0.06), respectively. [Conclusions] Beta blockers may dose-dependently reduce the respiratory rates of older adults. However, in clinical settings, the impact of beta-blocker use or non-use on the respiratory rate may not occur at a clinically important level. Clinicians should note the potentially suppressive impact of beta blockers on respiratory rates according to the situation.

Association between pulmonary ventilatory function and mild cognitive impairment: A population-based study in rural China

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a reversible intermediate state, plays an important role in the development and prevention of dementia. The relationship between pulmonary function and MCI risk has not yet been well-elucidated.

Methods

We included 2,947 rural Chinese residents aged ≥35 years who were free from a history of stroke, dementia, or other brain diseases and measured pulmonary ventilatory function using calibrated spirometry according to the recommended method. MCI was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic for Chinese scale. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines with covariate adjustment were performed to explore the association between pulmonary function and MCI risk.

Results

The prevalence of MCI increased with decreasing pulmonary function, from the lowest quartile to the highest quartile of pulmonary function: 63.9, 50.5, 43.8, and 43.6%, respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors, participants in the first quartile had a significantly increased risk of MCI (ORs, 1.691, 95% CI, 1.267-2.258), with the highest quartile as the reference. In the subgroup analysis, a significant association of pulmonary function and MCI was found in females and those with low physical activity. Meanwhile, we observed an L-shaped relationship between pulmonary function and MCI (P _non-linear = 0.032).

Conclusions

Poor pulmonary function was associated with an increased risk of MCI among rural Chinese adults, and presented a non-linear relationship. These findings remind us of the need for early cognitive assessment in local populations with lower pulmonary function.

Associations between sarcopenia with asthmatic prevalence, lung function and comorbidity

Background

Sarcopenia is listed as a treatment trait in behavioral/risk factors for severe asthma, but studies on asthma and sarcopenia are lacking. This study aimed to determine the associations between sarcopenia with asthmatic prevalence, symptoms, lung function and comorbidities.

Methods

Fifteen thousand four hundred four individuals from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS) and 10,263 individuals from the Study on global AGEing and adult health(SAGE) in China were included in this study. Four components of this study were used to assess the bidirectional association in the prevalence between sarcopenia with asthma, and estimate the relationships between sarcopenia with asthmatic symptoms, lung function and comorbidities via generalized additive models. The 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale ≥ 12 scores was classified as depression.

Results

In the CHARLS and SAGE, the prevalence of sarcopenia in asthmatics was higher than those without asthma. Asthmatics with sarcopenia had a significantly increased prevalence of severe shortness of breath(sarcopenia yes vs. no, adjusted OR = 3.71, 95%CI: 1.43–9.60) and airway obstruction in the SAGE(sarcopenia yes vs. no, adjusted OR = 6.82, 95%CI: 2.54–18.34) and an obvious reduction of PEF in the CHARLS and SAGE(sarcopenia yes vs. no, adjusted RR = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.82–0.91) compared to asthmatics without sarcopenia. The presence of sarcopenia was positively associated with the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(sarcopenia yes vs no, adjusted OR = 5.76, 95%CI:2.01–16.5) and depression(sarcopenia yes vs no, adjusted OR = 1.87, 95%CI:1.11–3.14) in asthmatics.

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that sarcopenia partakes in the development of asthma by affecting lung function and comorbidities and maybe considered a treatable trait of asthma management.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03394-9.

Predictive Ability of the Five-time Chair Stand Test for Postoperative Pneumonia after Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

The revised sarcopenia guidelines proposed handgrip strength (HGS) and five-time chair stand test (5-CST) as the primary parameters of muscle function. HGS and 5-CST are associated with pulmonary function among community-dwelling people, although few reports have described an association between these parameters and surgical outcomes in carcinomas. We examined the predictive ability of 5-CST for postoperative pneumonia after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) compared with that of HGS.

METHODS

This retrospective, single-center, observational study evaluated 222 male patients who underwent MIE for esophageal cancer between February 2018 and October 2020. Sarcopenia parameters included 5-CST, HGS, and skeletal muscle index. Postoperative pneumonia predictors were determined by using multivariate logistic regression analysis. We assessed the net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) to analyze the predictive ability of 5-CST and HGS.

RESULTS

MIE was performed for squamous cell carcinoma (n = 179), adenocarcinoma (n = 38), and other cancers (n = 5). Forty-nine (22.1%) patients developed postoperative pneumonia. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.10; p = 0.027), 5-CST (OR, 1.19; 95% CI 1.00-1.40; p = 0.046), and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (RLNP) (OR, 3.37; 95% CI 1.60-7.10; p = 0.001) significantly predicted postoperative pneumonia. Category-free NRI and IDI showed that adding 5-CST in the prediction model with age and RLNP resulted in significantly greater reclassification and discrimination abilities than did HGS.

CONCLUSIONS

The 5-CST significantly predicted postoperative pneumonia after MIE. NRI and IDI analyses suggested that 5-CST had significantly better predictive ability for postoperative pneumonia than did HGS.

Pulmonary function is associated with cognitive decline and structural brain differences

The association of poor pulmonary function (PF) with cognitive trajectories and structural brain differences remains unclear. Within the Rush Memory and Aging Project, 1377 dementia-free subjects were followed up to 21 years. PF was assessed with a composite score measured at baseline. Global and domain-specific cognitive function was assessed annually constructed from 19 cognitive tests. A subsample of 351 participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the cross-sectional association between PF and structural brain volumes. We found that low PF was related to faster decline in global cognition, and domain-specific function including episodic memory, semantic memory, working memory, visuospatial ability, and perceptual speed. In addition, low PF was associated with smaller volumes of total brain, white matter and gray matter, and larger white matter hyperintensities volume. Our results suggest that low PF is associated with faster cognitive decline, and both neurodegeneration and vascular brain lesions may underlie the association.

Sex differences in the contribution of different physiological systems to physical function in older adults

Having the physical function to undertake activities of daily living (ADLs) is essential in order to maintain independence. The aim of this study is to investigate factors associated with physical function in older adults and determine if these associations differ in men versus women. In total, 726 participants (57% men; 73±7 years old) from a population-based cohort, the Southall and Brent Revisited (SABRE) study, completed questionnaires permitting a physical function score (PFS) to be calculated. Detailed phenotyping was performed including cardiovascular (echocardiography and macrovascular and microvascular functions), skeletal muscle (grip strength and oxidative capacity) and lung (pulmonary) function measurements. In a sub-group, maximal aerobic capacity was estimated from a sub-maximal exercise test. In women versus men, the association between grip strength and PFS was nearly 3 times stronger, and the association between microvascular dysfunction and PFS was over 5 times stronger (standardized β-coefficient (95% CI) 0.34 (0.22, 0.45) versus 0.11 (0.01,0.22) and -0.27 (-0.37, -0.17) versus -0.05 (-0.14, 0.04), respectively). In men, the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and PFS was 3 times greater than that in women (standardized β-coefficient (95% CI) 0.33 (0.22, 0.45) versus 0.10 (-0.04, 0.25). Cardiovascular, skeletal muscle and pulmonary factors all contribute to self-reported physical function, but the relative pattern of contribution differs by sex. Grip strength and microvascular function are most strongly associated with physical function in women while cardiorespiratory fitness is most strongly associated with physical function in men. This is relevant to the design of effective interventions that target maintenance of physical function in old age.

Peak expiratory flow rate and sarcopenia risk in older Indonesian people: A nationwide survey

Reduced peak expiratory flow is a common physiological change in older individuals and age is an important predictor for sarcopenia. We analyzed nationwide survey data to determine the relationship between peak expiratory flow rate and sarcopenia in older Indonesians. Community-dwelling Indonesian individuals aged ≥60 years (n = 2422; mean age = 67.21 y) from the fifth-wave data of the Indonesian Family Life Survey was selected. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on handgrip strength, gait speed, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass measurements. Peak expiratory flow rates (PEFRs) were categorized according to their percentage of predicted flow rates as <50%, 50% to 80%, and >80%. Confounders previously determined to be associated with sarcopenia occurrence were included. Sarcopenia prevalence was 50.25%. After adjustment for confounders, PEFRs of <50% and 50% to 80% were associated with an increased sarcopenia risk (odds ratio = 5.22 and 1.88, respectively) compared with PEFRs of >80%. Poor lung function was independently associated with sarcopenia occurrence. Future studies should explore the usefulness of PEFR as a risk factor of sarcopenia.

Respiratory Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Respiratory Disability: Concepts, Diagnosis, and Treatment

The condition of muscle fiber atrophy and weakness that occurs in respiratory muscles along with systemic skeletal muscle with age is known as respiratory sarcopenia. The Japanese Working Group of Respiratory Sarcopenia of the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Nutrition narratively reviews these areas, and proposes the concept and diagnostic criteria. We have defined respiratory sarcopenia as "whole-body sarcopenia and low respiratory muscle mass followed by low respiratory muscle strength and/or low respiratory function." Respiratory sarcopenia can be caused by various factors such as aging, decreased activity, undernutrition, disease, cachexia, and iatrogenic causes. We have also created an algorithm for diagnosing respiratory sarcopenia. Respiratory function decreases with age in healthy older people, along with low respiratory muscle mass and strength. We have created a new term, "Presbypnea," meaning a decline in respiratory function with aging. Minor functional respiratory disability due to aging, such as that indicated by a modified Medical Research Council level 1 (troubled by shortness of breath when hurrying or walking straight up hill), is an indicator of presbypnea. We also define sarcopenic respiratory disability as "a disability with deteriorated respiratory function that results from respiratory sarcopenia." Sarcopenic respiratory disability is diagnosed if respiratory sarcopenia is present with functional disability. Cases of respiratory sarcopenia without functional disability are diagnosed as "at risk of sarcopenic respiratory disability." Functional disability is defined as a modified Medical Research Council grade of 2 or more. Rehabilitation nutrition, treatment that combines rehabilitation and nutritional management, may be adequate to prevent and treat respiratory sarcopenia and sarcopenic respiratory disability.

Comparison of physical properties of voluntary coughing, huffing and swallowing in healthy subjects

Coughing, huffing and swallowing protect the airway from aspiration. This study was conducted to compare the physical properties of voluntary coughing, huffing and swallowing in healthy subjects. Ten healthy men were asked to huff, cough and swallow repeatedly. Electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded from the left side of the external oblique (EO), sternocleidomastoid, suprahyoid (SH) and thyrohyoid muscles. Airflow was recorded using a face mask with two-way non-rebreathing valves. The expiratory velocity of huffing and coughing and the SH EMG of all actions presented high intraclass correlation coefficients (> 0.8). The inspiratory and expiratory velocities did not differ significantly between coughing and huffing. The expiratory acceleration of coughing was significantly higher than that of huffing, whereas the expiratory volume of coughing was significantly smaller than that of huffing. The EO EMG of coughing and huffing were significantly larger than that of swallowing. The EO EMG activity during the expiratory phase was significantly higher than that of the other phases of both coughing and huffing. The SH EMG of coughing and huffing were significantly smaller than that of swallowing. Correlation analysis revealed that the expiratory velocity of coughing was strongly positively correlated with that of huffing. The expiratory volume of huffing was significantly positively correlated with hand grip strength. These results suggest that EO and SH muscle activities during huffing or coughing differ those during swallowing, and huffing and coughing may work similarly in expiratory function.

Normative values of muscle strength across ages in a 'real world' population: results from the longevity check-up 7+ project

BACKGROUND

Low muscle strength is a powerful predictor of negative health-related events and a key component of sarcopenia. The lack of normative values for muscle strength across ages hampers the practical appraisal of this parameter. The aim of the present study was to produce normative values for upper and lower extremity muscle strength across a wide spectrum of ages, in a large sample of community-dwellers recruited in the Longevity check-up (Lookup) 7+ project.

METHODS

Lookup 7+ is an ongoing project that started in June 2015 and conducted in unconventional settings (i.e. exhibitions, malls, and health promotion campaigns) across Italy with the aim of fostering the adoption of healthy lifestyles in the general population. Candidate participants are eligible for enrolment if they are 18+ years and provide written informed consent. Upper and lower extremity muscle strength is assessed by handgrip strength and five-repetition chair-stand [5 × sit-to-stand (STS)] tests, respectively. Cross-sectional centile and normative values for handgrip strength and 5 × STS tests from age 18 to 80+ years were generated for the two genders. Smoothed normative curves for the two tests were constructed for men and women using the lambda-mu-sigma method.

RESULTS

From 1 June 2015 to 30 May 2019, 11 448 participants were enrolled. The mean age of participants was 55.6 years (standard deviation: 11.5 years; range: 18-98 years), and 6382 (56%) were women. Normative values for handgrip strength and the 5 × STS test, both absolute and normalized by body mass index, were obtained for men and women, stratified by age groups. Values of upper and lower extremity muscle strength across ages identified three periods in life: an increase to peak in young age and early adulthood (18-24 years), preservation through midlife (25-44 years), and a decline from midlife onwards (45+ years).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study established age-specific and gender-specific percentile reference values for handgrip strength and the 5 × STS test. The normative curves generated can be used to interpret the assessment of muscle strength in everyday practice for the early detection of individuals with or at risk of sarcopenia.

Association between skeletal muscle mass index and lung function/respiratory muscle strength in older adults requiring long-term care or support

[Purpose] We focused on skeletal muscle mass index, one of the biomarkers of sarcopenia, and investigated the association between skeletal muscle mass index and the parameters of lung function and respiratory muscle strength. [Participants and Methods] After applying the exclusion criteria, we included, in this cross-sectional study, 120 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years who required long-term care/support and underwent ambulatory rehabilitation under the long-term care insurance system in Japan. We measured the skeletal muscle mass index, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow rate, maximum expiratory pressure, and maximum inspiratory pressure. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. [Results] The skeletal muscle mass index was positively correlated with only maximum expiratory pressure for both male and female participants by Pearson's correlation coefficient. With the skeletal muscle mass index as a dependent variable, only the maximum expiratory pressure was significant for both male and female participants by the multiple regression analysis. [Conclusion] Therefore, the findings of this study suggested that compared with lung function tests, maximum expiratory pressure, which is an indicator of respiratory muscle strength, is related to muscle mass. Maximum expiratory pressure might be the most useful indicator for sarcopenia.

Relationship between pulmonary function and physical performance among community-living people: results from Look-up 7+ study

BACKGROUND

While respiratory muscle strength is recognized to decline with aging process, the relationship between sarcopenia and pulmonary function remains to be studied. The present study was undertaken to provide a better insight into the comprehension of the relationship between pulmonary function and muscle function (strength and physical performance) using an unselected sample of subjects assessed during the Longevity Check-up 7+ project.

METHODS

Look-up 7+ is an ongoing cross-sectional survey started in June 2015 and conducted in unconventional settings (i.e. exhibitions, malls, and health promotion campaigns) across Italy. Candidate participants are eligible for enrolment if they are at least 18 years of age and provide written informed consent. Muscle strength was assessed by handgrip strength test, and physical performance was evaluated by chair stand test. Spirometer analysis was performed using the AirSmart system, and the largest forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values were collected.

RESULTS

The mean age of 925 subjects participating in the Longevity check-7+ surveys and receiving the spirometer evaluation was 55.6 years (range from 18 to 98 years), and 501 (54%) were women. Overall, both in male and female participants, FVC, FEV1 and PEF positively correlated with handgrip strength and chair stand tests. The receiver operator characteristic curve analysis revealed that the areas under the curves for FVC, FEV1, and PEF were 0.79, 0.80 and 0.80, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results clearly show that pulmonary function was positively associated with handgrip strength and chair stand tests. Based on this observation, muscle strength, physical performance, and pulmonary function should be recommended as the method of choice for the early detection of individuals at risk of probable sarcopenia and at the same time to better characterized the severity of sarcopenia status.