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Aim: To determine reference values and propose prediction equations for respiratory muscle strength, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and endurance by means of maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) in healthy Brazilian adults. Methods: Anthropometric data, level of physical activity, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength and maximal voluntary ventilation of 243 participants (111 men and 132 women) aged 20 to 80 years were assessed at three cities in the southeast and northeast region of Brazil. Results: Mean maximal respiratory pressures and MVV were higher in men (MIP = 111.0 ± 28.0; MEP = 149.6 ± 40.3; MVV = 150.6 ± 35.2) than in women (MIP = 87.9 ± 17.6; MEP = 106.7 ± 25.2; MVV = 103.4 ± 23.2; all p < 0.05). Based on regression models, the following prediction equations were proposed for men: MIP = 137–0.57 (age), R2 = 0.13, standard error of estimate (SEE) = 26.11; MEP = 179.9–0.67 x (age), R2 = 0.08, SEE = 38.54; and MVV = 206.3–1.18 x (age), R2 = 0.36, SEE = 28.08. Prediction equations were also proposed for women: MIP = 107.3–0.4 x (age), R2 = 0.16, SEE = 16.10; MEP = 127.4–0.43 x (age), R2 = 0.08, SEE = 24.09; and MVV = 146.3–0.86 x (age), R2 = 0.42, SEE = 17.56. Conclusion: Reference values for MIP, MEP, and MVV were determined in healthy Brazilian adults. Results from different Brazilian regions provided adequate prediction equations considering an ethnically heterogeneous population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The sit-to-stand test provides insight into age-related functional capacity; however, there are various variants of sit-to-stand, and we do not know which of these better discriminates against age-related functional capacity. Our study aimed to compare the age-related functional capacity in older people by evaluating sit-to-stand power variants, using young individuals as a reference. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 102 adults (57 women) aged 60–80 and 105 adults (54 women) aged 20–30. Participants performed five times sit-to-stand (5 sit-to-stand), 30-second sit-to-stand, and 1-min sit-to-stand. Z scores were obtained for each sit-to-stand variant using power (W), relative (W/kg), and allometric (W/m2 ) normalization methods. A mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance assessed the interactions among the sit-to-stand variants, normalization methods, sex, physical activity, and tobacco history. A significant interaction between sit-to-stand variants, normalization methods, and sex (P = 0.002) was found. The mean effect of sit-to-stand variants revealed that the 1-min sit-to-stand had the lowest Z score (P < 0.05). Significant variations were observed between sit-to-stand variants in all normalization methods for women (P < 0.001). However, in men, only the difference between 5 sit-to stand and 1-min sit-to-stand remained consistent across normalization methods (P < 0.05). Our findings highlight the efficacy of 1-min sit to-stand in distinguishing age-related functional capacity over the other sit-to-stand tests, especially in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective Methods Results Conclusion Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) may present with hypoxaemia at rest or during daily activities. There is no epidemiological data on the prescription of long‐term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in patients with PH. The study sought to analyse the prevalence and incidence of LTOT prescription among patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in Spain and to determine predictors for this prescription.A retrospective analysis was performed from the Spanish Registry of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (REHAP). Collected data included demographics and anthropometric measurements, functional class (FC), arterial blood gases, pulmonary function tests, haemodynamic measurements, six‐minute walking distance (6MWD) and LTOT prescription. In addition, we assessed the prevalence and incidence of LTOT prescription by PH group and subtype and potential predictors for LTOT initiation in the first 5 years after diagnosis.We analysed 4533 patients (69.9% PAH and 30.1% CTEPH), mostly female (64.5%), with a mean age of 53.0 ± 18.3 years. The prevalence of LTOT was 19.3% for all patients. The incidence of LTOT prescriptions decreased from 5.6% to 1.6% between 2010 and 2019, respectively. Predictors for LTOT prescription, excluding those that represent the indication for oxygen therapy were: FC (HR: 1.813), 6MWD (HR: 1.002), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) (HR: 1.014), cardiac index (CI) (HR: 1.253), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (HR: 1.023) and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) (HR: 1.294).The prevalence of LTOT in PAH and CTEPH patients is close to 20%. FC, 6MWD, mPAP, CI, PVR and DLCO were predictors for LTOT prescription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most patients with haematological malignancies who undergo allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) receive chemotherapy before the transplant to control the disease. Certain chemotherapy drugs can cause lung toxicity. Conversely, in patients with chronic respiratory conditions, the 6‐min walking test (6MWT) and the desaturation–distance ratio (DDR) have demonstrated prognostic significance. Our objective was to determine whether the 6MWD and DDR, assessed prior to HSCT, have a prognostic impact on survival at 24 months post‐HSCT. Methods: A prospective experimental study was conducted in consecutive patients referred for allogeneic HSCT at Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. A complete functional respiratory study, including the 6MWT and DDR, was conducted prior to admission. The area under the curve (AUC) and cut‐off points were calculated. Data on patients' characteristics, HSCT details, main events, with a focus on lung complications, and survival at 24 months were analysed. Results: One hundred and seventy‐five patients (39% women) with mean age of 48 ± 13 years old were included. Before HSCT, forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in the first second were 96% ± 13% predicted and 92% ± 14% predicted, respectively; corrected diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide 79% ± 15% predicted; 6MWD was 568 ± 83 m and DDR of.27 (.20–.41). The cut‐off points for 6MWD and DDR were 566 m, [.58 95% CI (.51–.64)], p =.024 and.306, [.63 95% CI (.55–.70)], p =.0005, respectively. The survival rate at 24 months was 55%. Conclusion: Our results showed that individuals who exhibit a 6MWD shorter than 566 ms or a decline in DDR beyond.306 experienced reduced survival rates at 24 months after HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]