Caracterização da força muscular respiratória e da capacidade funcional de pacientes internados em uma enfermaria

Abstract

Hospitalization is considered a major risk especially for patients confined to bed. Consequently, it is followed usually by the reduction of functional capacity, there may be also a loss of the muscular strength, including respiratory strength due to immobilization time. Objectives: Characterize respiratory muscle strength and functional capacity of patients hospitalized in internal medicine ward at a public hospital in Salvador, Bahia. Methodology: The study included 23 individuals (6 men and 17 women), aged between 23 and 70 years (average age 54.17 ± 10.97 years). Respiratory muscular strength was assessed by the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and by the maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) using the manovacuometer. Functional capacity was assessed by six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the Barthel scale. The data were processed by the EPI INFO software version 6.04. Results: There was a decrease of MEP (ρ = 0.002) and MIP (ρ = 0.024) compared to predicted values in the literature and a tendency to decrease in 6MWT compared with prediction equations (ρ = 0.733). There was a positive correlation between MEP and distance (ρ= 0.025). Regarding the Barthel scale, the patients showed only minimal dependence. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that respiratory muscle strength and functional capacity suffer a declining trend during hospitalization and demonstrates the involvement of respiratory muscle force during walking.