title: Effects of the aging process on respiratory function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The identification of breathing patterns in healthy elderly individuals and changes in the respiratory system related to the normal aging process is important to detect and prevent respiratory dysfunction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess and compare respiratory function between adults and elderly individuals according to baseline conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen adults aged 20-59 years (group 1), 12 elderly aged 60-69 years (group 2) and 12 elderly above 69 years of age (group 3) who were all nonsmokers, untrained and with normal pulmonary function tests were studied using calibrated respiratory inductive plethysmography to assess tidal volume (Vt), respiratory frequency (f), minute ventilation, mean inspiratory flow [Vt/inspiratory time (Ti)], inspiratory duty cycle (Ti/total cycle time), labored breathing index (an asynchrony index measurement), percentage of rib cage motion and abdominal motion. Measurements of the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure and transcutaneous oxygen saturation were also obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MIP was statistically significantly lower in group 2 (54.58 +/- 32.37 cm H2O) and group 3 (54.58 +/- 33.61 cm H2O) compared to group 1 (92.11 +/- 43.22 cm H2O; p = 0.037). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding breathing patterns, respiratory variables and thoracoabdominal motion. No statistically significant differences between groups 2 and 3 were found for any of the investigated variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the aging process of the respiratory system reduces the inspiratory muscle strength but does not have a significant impact on breathing pattern variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. rbrito@ufmg.br
authors.forename: Raquel Rodrigues
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Britto
authors.forename: Camila Camargos
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zampa
authors.forename: Tatiana Antunes
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Lívia Fontes
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Verônica Franco
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Parreira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010991:Plethysmography; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D013147:Spirometry; D055815:Young Adult