Relation between respiratory function and arterial stiffness assessed using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in healthy workers.
Atsushi Inomoto, Rika Fukuda, Junko Deguchi and 1 others
PMID 28932009WHAT IT FOUND
In 104 male workers without airflow limitation, lower FVC and FEV1 were linked with higher arterial stiffness, but FEV1/FVC was not.
This is an observation, not a treatment effect.
Key findings
01After adjustment, FVC and FEV1 had significant negative correlations with baPWV.
02FEV1/FVC had no significant relationship with baPWV.
03baPWV was also related to age, smoking index, blood pressure, heart rate, and lower limb muscle mass.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that respiratory function caused arterial stiffness or that improving respiratory function would reduce it. It included only male employees without airflow obstruction, so it does not apply to women, patients with COPD, or people with airflow limitation. Because participants with FEV1/FVC below 70% were excluded, the range of airflow limitation values was narrow, which may hide a relationship. Smoking habits were not examined in detail, including whether participants had quit. The study did not test any therapy, exercise programme, or breathing intervention.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that lung function training or respiratory therapy will reduce arterial stiffness. The study only measured associations in healthy male workers and did not test any treatment.