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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #351746
Title: Combined reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peripheral artery disease in sedentary elders with functional limitations

Author
item VAZ FRAGOSO, CARLOS - Yale University
item HSU, FANG-CHI - Wake Forest University
item BRINKLEY, TINA - Wake Forest University
item CHURCH, TIMOTHY - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item LIU, CHRISTINE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item MANINI, TODD - University Of Florida
item NEWMAN, ANNE - University Of Pittsburgh
item STAFFORD, RANDALL - Stanford University
item MCDERMOTT, MARY - Northwestern University
item GILL, THOMAS - Yale University

Submitted to: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association - Post-Acute and Long Term Care Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/2/2014
Publication Date: 9/1/2014
Citation: Vaz Fragoso, C.A., Hsu, F., Brinkley, T., Church, T., Liu, C., Manini, T., Newman, A.B., Stafford, R.S., McDermott, M.M., Gill, T.M. 2014. Combined reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peripheral artery disease in sedentary elders with functional limitations. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association - Post-Acute and Long Term Care Medicine. 15(9):665-670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2014.05.008.

Interpretive Summary: Many older adults have limited lung function, either due to disease or environmental factors, such as cigarette exposure. Many older adults also have peripheral artery disease, or reduced blood flow to the legs. Using data from a study of older adults, this study found that 6% of the study participants had both conditions. The study found that persons with both conditions were more likely to walk slowly (less than 0.8 meters/second). The study investigators thought that having both limited lung function and PAD might reduce people's endurance for walking long distances. Because of this poor endurance, these persons walked slower. This study finding is important because other studies have found that walking slowly has been found to be associated with increased risk of death.

Technical Abstract: Objectives: Because they are potentially modifiable and may coexist, we evaluated the combined occurrence of a reduced forced expiratory volume in 1-second (FEV1) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), including its association with exertional symptoms, physical inactivity, and impaired mobility, in sedentary elders with functional limitations. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Lifestyle Interventions and Independence in Elder (LIFE) Study. Participants: 1307 sedentary community-dwelling persons, mean age 78.9, with functional limitations (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB] <10). Measurements: A reduced FEV1 was defined by a z-score <-1.64 (< lower limit of normal), while PAD was defined by an ankle-brachial index <1.00. Exertional dyspnea was defined as moderate-to-severe (modified Borg index), immediately after a 400-meter walk test (400MWT). Exertional leg symptoms were established by the San Diego Claudication Questionnaire. Physical inactivity was evaluated by percent of accelerometry wear-time with activity less than 100 counts/min (top quartile established high sedentary-time). Mobility was evaluated by the 400MWT (gait-speed <0.8 m/s defined as slow) and SPPB (