Abdominal obesity augments further reduction in the cough capacities by supination of middle-aged and elderly women

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine whether abdominal obesity and different postures (sitting or supine) affected the cough capacities of middle-aged and elderly women. Method: Twenty-four middle-aged and elderly women with (n = 10; obese group) or without (n = 14; non-obese group) abdominal obesity were included. We evaluated changes in vital capacity (VC) and cough peak flow (CPF) in sitting and supine positions. Results: CPF and VC were significantly lower in the supine versus the seated position in both the non-obese and obese groups. Although no difference was found in VC or CPF between the groups in either position, decreases in both VC and CPF consequent to a change from seated to supine were greater in the obese versus the non-obese group (-5.1 ± 4.4% vs. -3.7 ± 5.3% for VC and -10.8 ± 3.0% vs. -6.7 ± 5.6% for CPF, respectively; p < 0.05). In the obese group, the decrease in CPF with supination correlated with the waist circumference (r = 0.64, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that cough capacity in the supine position was more affected in the subjects with abdominal obesity because their diaphragmatic resistance was further increased by supination consequent to excessive abdominal fat contents.