Validación del Cuestionario de la enfermedad respiratoria crónica en pacientes chilenos con limitación crónica del flujo aéreo

Profile of Pneumopathic Elderly Persons Admitted to a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center

Abstract Introduction: Pneumopathies are defined as a group of respiratory diseases. Physiotherapy centers are a conventional treatment option which can help prevent and treat various pulmonary conditions. Objective: To characterize elderly persons with pneumopathies admitted for pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods: 84 elderly persons were admitted for pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients diagnosed with pulmonary disease and aged ≥60 years were included in the study. The following variables were analyzed: gender, age, marital status, profession, medical diagnosis, main medical complaint, associated diseases, and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: The most common lung disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (26.2%). Women showed a greater association with asthma [odds ratio (OR)=5.875; p=0.010]. Dyspnea was the most prevalent main complaint among this population (50%). Among the main complaints, difficulty walking was more associated with men (OR=2.85; p=0.055). Strokes were the main disease most commonly associated with pneumopathies (12.1%). Women had a greater association with other diseases (OR=5.34, p=0.068), especially when two diseases were presented simultaneously with lung disease (OR=2.32, p=0.041). Among the risk factors, physical inactivity (OR=3.33), alcohol consumption (OR=0.046) and history of smoking (OR=3.00) were significantly associated with men, while depression (OR=5.67) was significantly associated with women. Women exhibited a 3.28 greater association between allergies and pneumopathies than men (p=0.013). The practice of physical activity was more associated with women (OR=3.89; p=0.03). Osteoporosis was more prevalent among elderly women with pulmonary disease (OR=10.75; p<0.0001), and was also significantly associated with a history of smoking (OR=4.31; p=0.009). Conclusion: The most frequent diagnosis, main complaint and associated disease were COPD, dyspnea and strokes, respectively. Elderly woman exhibited a greater association with the diagnosis of bronchial asthma, and more diseases associated with lung disease. Physical inactivity, difficulty walking, and a history of alcohol consumption and smoking are more associated with men, while depression, the presence of allergies, regular physical activity and osteoporosis are more associated with women. Thus, the results demonstrate that these individuals have specific characteristics.

[Effect of inspiratory muscle training on muscle strength and quality of life in patients with chronic airflow limitation: a randomized controlled trial]

OBJECTIVE

Chronic airflow limitation (CAL) is a significant cause of illness and death. Inspiratory muscle training has been described as a technique for managing CAL. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training on improving physiological and functional variables.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Randomized controlled trial in which 35 patients with CAL were assigned to receive either an experimental (n=17) or control (n=18) intervention. The experimental intervention consisted of 2 months of inspiratory muscle training using a device that administered a resistive load of 40% of maximal static inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax). Inspiratory muscle strength, exercise tolerance, respiratory function, and quality of life were assessed.

RESULTS

Significant improvement in inspiratory muscle strength was observed in the experimental training group (P=.02). All patients improved over time in both groups (P<.001). PImax increased by 8.9 cm H2O per month of training. Likewise, the health-related quality of life scores improved by 0.56 points.

CONCLUSION

Use of a threshold loading device is effective for strengthening inspiratory muscles as measured by PImax after the first month of training in patients with CAL. The long-term effectiveness of such training and its impact on quality of life should be studied in a larger number of patients.