Correlação entre força muscular respiratória e gravidade clínica em adultos com asma brônquica

Abstract

The measurement of respiratory muscle strength has a wide application, since it allows the diagnosis of respiratory failure due to muscle failure; early detection of respiratory muscle weakness. Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the strength of contraction of the respiratory muscles in asthmatic adults by measuring maximum respiratory pressures and to verify if there is a direct / progressive correlation between worsening respiratory muscle strength and asthma severity (spirometric classification) . Methods: Cross-sectional observational study with a sample composed of outpatients aged between 18 and 60 years with previously confirmed diagnosis of asthma. Spirometric values, PImax and MEP were determined. Three reproducible measures were selected (variation <10%) and there was a decrease in muscle strength related to asthma severity. Results: 124 patients with asthma were evaluated. Separating them by gravity (spirometric classification) we have 24 normal, 42 with mild obstructive ventilatory disorder, 36 with DVOM and 22 with DVOG. There was a correlation between spirometry variables with PImax and MEP significantly in the DVOG group alone. There was an improvement in PEmax and PImax values ​​after bronchodilator testing. Conclusions: In the present sample, the presence of asthma determined significant changes in respiratory muscle strength only in patients classified as severe. There is a very weak linear correlation between worsening respiratory muscle strength and asthma severity. keywords: asthma; respiration muscles; respirations function tests