Effect of Different Environments on Respiratory Function of Ambulatory Elderly Community Dwellers and Institutional Residents in Increased Age
Year: 1997
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether different living places would exert some influences on respiratory function in increased age. The spirometric parameters including vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0) and the maximal flow at 50% level of the vital capacity (V50) were measured in 159 subjects (47 men and 112 women). The population was divided by sex (men or women), living place (community or institution) and decade (seventies and eighties). All parameters for men and women of the same age groups decreased in Institutional group compared to Community one. In the institution, the mean values of FEV1.0 and V50 in women of 80's were characteristically greater than those of 70's. The results suggest 1) that the respiratory function in women might be clearly differentiated than men from the viewpoint of environment and age, 2) that the function of Institutional group in women would not exert as great an influence with age as that of Community group, and 3) that it would be important to pay more attention to the environment of the elderly, when considering their respiratory function. In clinical settings the simple and easy-to-manage method of spirometry to assess lung function with increased aging may be of value to provide elderly subjects with effective exercise programs applied to the activities of daily living.
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1608079850