Relationship between anthropometric indicators and respiratory muscle strength in chronic heart failure

Objective. To determine, according to anthropometry, caliperometry, and dynamometry, the parameters determining individual physical development and somatotypes, as well as to identify their relationship with the strength of the respiratory muscles (RM) in the initial and clinically pronounced stages of chronic heart failure (CHF) with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Materials and methods. 58 patients of both sexes aged 45 to 72 years were examined. The patients were divided into two groups: the main group (patients with CHF) and the comparison group (patients without CHF). All patients underwent anthropometric measurements, caliperometry, and dynamometry. The strength of RM was determined. Statistical processing was carried out using nonparametric methods. The indicators were considered reliable at p < 0.05. Results. When determining somatotypes, a high incidence of endomorphic type was revealed in patients with CHF with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. The indices of RM strength did not significantly differ in both groups. The analysis of anthropometry parameters revealed high values in patients with weakness of inspiratory and expiratory muscles in CHF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusion. (1) Endomorphic somatotype was more common in patients with clinically pronounced CHF with preserved ejection fraction. (2) In the patients with CHF and RM weakness, the level of the N-terminal fragment of natriuretic cerebral propeptide was higher compared to the patients with CHF with a preserved fraction of the left ventricle with preserved RM strength ( p = 0.05). (3) With an increase in the functional class of CHF, the tendency to decrease the strength of inspiratory muscles increases ( F = 3,3; p = 0,027). (4) In all examined patients, a positive correlation was found between the strength of RM and the results of carpal dynamometry. In the CHF patients with preserved left ventricular fraction, anthropometry parameters correlated only with the maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), while those in patients without CHF correlated both with maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and MEP.