Influence of neck circumference on respiratory endurance and muscle strength in the morbidly obese.
BACKGROUND
Respiratory function decline has been reported mainly in the morbidly obese. Little is known about the influence of adiposity pattern on the ability to generate strength in respiratory muscles. This study evaluated strength and respiratory endurance in the morbidly obese in preoperative bariatric surgery to determine if such variables were affected by different anthropometric markers (body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and neck circumference (NC)).


METHODS
We evaluated 39 adult and young obese patients of both sexes, with no respiratory or heart diseases. Standard pulmonary function tests and static respiratory muscle strength (maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP)) and endurance (maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV)) were measured in relation to sex and groups (WHR > 0.95 and WHR < 0.95; NC > 43 and NC < 43).


RESULTS
Thirty-nine obese patients (28 women), aged 36.9 + 11.9 years, BMI 49.3 + 5.1 kg/m², WHR 0.96 + 0.07, and NC 44.1 + 4.2 cm, took part in the study Standard pulmonary function tests and respiratory muscle strength were within normal parameters, except MVV (<80%). Obese with NC ≥ 43 cm (n = 22) have greater respiratory muscle strength and less endurance, MEP (p = 0.031) and MVV (p = 0.018). Abdominal adiposity (n = 19) does not seem to affect respiratory muscle strength. A positive correlation was observed only between NC and PEF (r = 0.392, p = 0.014) and marginally between NC and MVV (r = 0.308, p = 0.056).


CONCLUSIONS
Although adiposity patterns did not affect inspiratory muscle strength, neck adiposity was associated lower respiratory muscle endurance.
Gonçalves
Marize Jácome
MJ
Physiotherapy, Onofre Lopes University Hospital-Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
do Lago
Sheyla Thatiane Santos
ST
Godoy
Eudes de Paiva
Ede P
Fregonezi
Guilherme Augusto de Freitas
GA
Bruno
Selma Sousa
SS
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio