The physiological characteristics of community-dwelling elderly Japanese with airflow limitation: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Aging clinical and experimental research 2015-02, Vol.27 (1), p.69-74
• Main Authors: Fukutani, Naoto, Yamada, Minoru, Nishiguchi, Shu, Yukutake, Taiki, Kayama, Hiroki, Tanigawa, Takanori, Adachi, Daiki, Hotta, Takayuki, Morino, Saori, Tashiro, Yuto, Aoyama, Tomoki, Tsuboyama, Tadao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Lung - physiopathology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Musculoskeletal system; Original Article; Physiology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - epidemiology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Spirometry
• ISSN: 1720-8319; 1594-0667; 1720-8319
• DOI: 10.1007/s40520-014-0248-5

Background and aims The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological characteristics of community-dwelling elderly subjects, aged ≥65 years, with airflow limitation in the Japanese community. Methods Subjects were recruited through local press advertisement, and 180 individuals were enrolled. Data on age, body mass index (BMI), gender, smoking history, and past medical history were obtained, as were pulmonary function parameters, skeletal muscle mass index, and physical activity. Results The final study population comprised 161 participants from whom we obtained valid spirometry results. The mean age of this population was 73.4 ± 4.4 years, and 78 participants (48.4 %) were men. The prevalence of airflow limitation was 29.2 % ( n  = 47). Subjects with airflow limitation were significantly older ( P  = 0.01) and had poorer pulmonary function ( P