Association between respiratory muscle strength with fall risk, fear of falling, and quality of life in sarcopenic older adults: a retrospective preliminary study

Aims: Elderly patients with sarcopenia are known to have lower respiratory muscle strength compared to non-sarcopenics. The main aim of this study was to assess the relationship between maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures with fall risk, fear of falling, and quality of life in sarcopenic elderly patients. Methods: Twenty participants [12 women, 8 men; median (IQR) age: 81 (73-83.50)] who were diagnosed with sarcopenia enrolled in this retrospective study. Respiratory muscle strength assessment [Maximum Inspiratory and Expiratory Pressure (MIP and MEP, respectively)] with an electronic pressure measuring device; fall risk assessment with Modified Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction and Balance (m-CTSIB) under eyes open and closed on firm and foam surfaces; fear of falling with Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), and quality of life with Sarcopenia Quality of Life Questionnaire (SarQoL) were performed for all participants. Spearman correlation analyses were used to determine the relationship between respiratory muscle strength with fall risk, fear of falling, and quality of life. Results: Moderate positive association between SarQoL and MIP (?=0.527, p=0.017) and, SarQoL and MEP (?=0.473, p=0.035) was observed. On the other hand, there was no correlation between respiratory muscle strength with fall risk and fear of falling (p > 0.05). Conclusion: These results allow us to suggest that assessing respiratory muscle strength among sarcopenic older adults may assist physiotherapists to maintain appropriate rehabilitation strategies to improve quality of life.