Association of Cough Peak Flow with Chest and Abdominal Wall Mobility in Older Adults

Abstract

[Purpose] This study investigated the association between cough peak flow and the chest and abdominal wall mobility of older adults. [Participants and Methods] Cough peak flow, chest and abdominal wall mobility (upper chest, lower chest, and abdomen) of 188 community-dwelling older adults (63 males, 125 females) were assessed using the breathing movement scale and respiratory function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures). [Results] The female participants had lower values of all the measurement items except age, body mass index, and upper chest wall mobility. In multiple regression analyses by sex, the value of the abdominal scale was a significant predictor of cough peak flow in both sexes. [Conclusion] This study provides evidence that cough strength may be associated with abdominal wall mobility in ambulatory community-dwelling older adults.