Resumen de Respiratory Impairment and Dyspnea and Their Associations with Physical Inactivity and Mobility in Sedentary Community-Dwelling Older Persons

Carlos A. Vaz Fragoso, Daniel P. Beavers, John L. Hankinson, Gail Flynn, Kathy Berra, Stephen B. Kritchevsky, Christine K. Liu, Mary M. McDermott, Todd M. Manini, W. Jack Rejeski, Thomas M. Gill

• Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of respiratory impairment and dyspnea and their associations with objectively measured physical inactivity and performance-based mobility in sedentary older persons.

  Design: Cross-sectional.

  Setting: Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Study.

  Participants: Community-dwelling older persons (n = 1,635, mean age 78.9) who reported being sedentary (<20 min/wk of regular physical activity and <125 min/wk of moderate physical activity in past month).

  Measurements: Respiratory impairment was defined as low ventilatory capacity (forced expiratory volume in 1 second less than lower limit of normal (LLN)) and respiratory muscle weakness (maximal inspiratory pressure

  Results: Prevalence rates were 17.7% for low ventilatory capacity, 14.7% for respiratory muscle weakness, 31.6% for dyspnea, 44.7% for moderate to severe mobility impairment and 43.6% for slow gait speed. Significant associations were found between low ventilatory capacity and slow gait speed (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03�1.92), between respiratory muscle weakness and moderate to severe mobility impairment (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.03�1.95), and between dyspnea and high sedentary time (aOR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.28�3.06) and slow gait speed (aOR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.22�2.38).

  Conclusion: Respiratory impairment and dyspnea are prevalent in sedentary older persons and are associated with objectively measured physical inactivity and poor performance-based mobility. Because they are modifiable, respiratory impairment and dyspnea should be considered in the evaluation of sedentary older persons.