Characteristics of respiratory function of aged female community dwellers and institutional residents.

The purpose of this study was to determine if different living environments would exert some influence on lung function in increased age. The spirometric parameters including vital capacity (VC), forced expiatory volume in one second (FEV 1.0) and the maximal flow at 50% level of the vital capacity (V50) were measured in 167 women. The population was divided by living place (community or institution) and decade (seventies and eighties). In all parameters of the same age, a decrease was significantly observed in Institutional vs. Community group. The mean values of FEV1.0 and V50 for institutional group were characteristically greater in the eighties than in the seventies. This result suggests that (1) the respiratory function might be clearly differentiated from the viewpoint of environment and age, (2) that every function of the Institutional group would not be as influenced by age as that of the Community group, and (3) it would be important to pay more attention to the environment of the elderly, when considering the respiratory function. In clinical settings the simple and easy-to-manage method of spirometry to assess lung function with increased age may be of value to provide elderly subjects with effective exercise programs that can be applied to activities of daily living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]