Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
Volume 177, Issue 7, Pages 781-786Publisher
AMER THORACIC SOC
DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200709-1332OC
Keywords
respiratory function; longitudinal studies; smoking; body mass index
Categories
Funding
- NICHD NIH HHS [R01 HD42141, R01 HD042141-05, R01 HD042141] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Rationale: Although respiratory dysfunction is common in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), determinants of longitudinal change in FEV1 and FVC have not been assessed. Objectives: Determine factors that influence longitudinal lung function decline in SCI. Methods: A total of 174 male participants (mean age of 49 and 17 yr after injury) completed a respiratory questionnaire and underwent spirometry over an average follow-up of 7.5 years (range, 4-14 yr). Measurements and Main Results: In multivariate models, longitudinal decline in FEV1 was significantly related to continued smoking, persistent wheeze, an increase in body mass index, and respiratory muscle strength. Aging was associated with an accelerated decline in FEV1 (for ages < 40, 40-60, > 60 yr: -27, -37, and -71 ml/yr, respectively). Similar effects were observed for FVC. Conclusions: Longitudinal change in FEV1 and FVC was not directly related to level and severity of SCI, but was attributable to potentially modifiable factors in addition to age. These results suggest that weight control, smoking cessation, trials directed at the recognition and treatment of wheeze, and efforts to improve respiratory muscle strength may slow lung function decline after SCI.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available