Performing slow vital capacity in older people with and without cognitive impairment — is it useful?

Background: most patients with moderate cognitive impairment are unable to perform forced spirometry. It has been suggested that slow vital capacity (SVC) is easier to perform than forced vital capacity (FVC) because it requires less understanding and co-ordination. We conducted a study to determine...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Age and ageing 2010-09, Vol.39 (5), p.588-591
Main Authors: Allen, S.C., Charlton, C., Backen, W., Warwick-Sanders, M., Yeung, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - physiology
Care and treatment
Cognition - physiology
Cognition disorders
Cognition Disorders - physiopathology
Cognitive disorders
Cognitive impairment
Concordance
Cough - etiology
Cough reflex
Development and progression
Elderly
Female
forced vital capacity
Humans
Inpatient care
Lung Diseases - diagnosis
Lung Diseases - physiopathology
Male
Medical tests
Methods
Minimental State Examination
Neurological disorders
Older people
Patient Compliance
Patients
Predictive Value of Tests
Psychological aspects
Sensitivity and Specificity
slow vital capacity
Spirometry
Spirometry - adverse effects
Spirometry - methods
Vital Capacity - physiology
Whooping cough
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Summary:Background: most patients with moderate cognitive impairment are unable to perform forced spirometry. It has been suggested that slow vital capacity (SVC) is easier to perform than forced vital capacity (FVC) because it requires less understanding and co-ordination. We conducted a study to determine whether that assertion is correct. Methods: we studied 83 inpatients, mean age 83 years (range 67–95, 51 female). They had measurements made of FVC, SVC and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The spirometry was conducted using the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society standards. Results: of the 83 subjects, 38 were able to do both FVC and SVC and 32 were unable to do either. The overall concordance was 84%. Twelve were able to do SVC but not FVC (eight due to excessive cough, two due to weakness and two had an MMSE
ISSN:0002-0729
1468-2834
DOI:10.1093/ageing/afq084