Influence of age and sex on respiratory muscle strength

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess respiratory muscle strength (RMS) by means of manovacuometry among women and men aged 40-89, checking whether there are differences in maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) values between same-sex subjects of different ages and between same-age subjects of different sex. One hundred subjects were studied (50 men, 50 women); subjects with pneumopathologies, practising regular physical activities, smokers and former smokers were excluded. Data were statistically analysed. Results show lesser both MIP and MEP values in women than same-aged men (p<0,001); and, among men and women, a progressive, significant reduction (p<0,01) in values of respiratory pressure at every decade in age advance. These results allow concluding that age and sex do influence RMS.