Authors :
Shaikh Uroosa Hussain; Dr. Tayyaba Munawar; Dr. R. S. Gangatharan
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 9 - September
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/3eneznsv
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/yeaj5n4r
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25sep1426
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Abstract :
Background
Pulmonary function and physical fitness decline progressively with age, yet limited evidence exists on their inter-
relationship in middle-aged adults. Understanding this correlation is important for designing preventive strategies to
maintain respiratory health and functional capacity.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 adults aged 40–59 years, divided into four age groups (n=25 each).
Physical activity levels were assessed using the IPAQ, and pulmonary function was evaluated with spirometry, measuring
FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and MVV. Pearson correlation and ANOVA were applied for statistical analysis.
Results
People who were more active generally had better lung function, and this trend was especially clear in the youngest
subgroup (40–44 years) between IPAQ and FVC (r=0.41, p<0.05) and MVV (r=0.42, p<0.05). In older subgroups (45–59
years), correlations weakened and did not reach statistical significance. MVV demonstrated the strongest responsiveness to
physical activity, while FEV1/FVC ratios remained relatively stable across all groups.
Conclusion
Physical activity is positively associated with pulmonary function in early middle age, particularly influencing
ventilatory capacity and respiratory muscle strength. These associations diminish with advancing age, highlighting the
importance of maintaining regular physical activity from early middle age to mitigate age-related decline in pulmonary
health.
Keywords :
Pulmonary Function, Physical Activity, Middle-Aged Adults, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Age- Related Decline, Respiratory Health.
References :
- Price JH, Luther SL. Physical fitness: its role in health for the elderly. J Gerontol Nurs. 1980;6(9):517-523. doi:10.3928/0098-9134-19800901-06
- Aline Patricia Bonato Miranda, Ada Clarice Gastaldi, Hugo Celso Dutra de Souza, Jair Licio Ferreira Santos. The Influence of Physical Fitness on Respiratory Muscle Strength in the Elderly. Am J Sports Sci. 2015;3(1):6-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20150301.12
- Janssens JP, Pache JC, Nicod LP. Physiological changes in respiratory function associated with ageing. Eur Respir J. 1999;13(1):197-205. doi:10.1034/j.1399-3003.1999.13a36.x
- Murano, H., Inoue, S., Sato, K., Sato, M., Igarashi, A., Fujimoto, S., Iseki, K., Moriyama, T., Shibagaki, Y., Kasahara, M., Narita, I., Yamagata, K., Tsuruya, K., Kondo, M., Asahi, K., Watanabe, T., Konta, T., & Watanabe, M. (2023). The effect of lifestyle on the mortality associated with respiratory diseases in the general population. Scientific reports, 13(1), 8272. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34929-8
- Abramson MJ, Kaushik S, Benke GP, et al. Symptoms and lung function decline in a middle-aged cohort of males and females in Australia. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2016;11:1097-1103. Published 2016 May 26. doi:10.2147/COPD.S103817
- Kirkeleit J, Riise T, Wielscher M, et al. Early life exposures contributing to accelerated lung function decline in adulthood - a follow-up study of 11,000 adults from the general population. EClinicalMedicine. 2023;66:102339. Published 2023 Dec 8. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102339
- Al-Ashkar F, Mehra R, Mazzone PJ. Interpreting pulmonary function tests: recognize the pattern, and the diagnosis will follow. Cleve Clin J Med. 2003;70(10):. doi:10.3949/ccjm.70.10.866
- Murano, H., Inoue, S., Sato, K., Sato, M., Igarashi, A., Fujimoto, S., Iseki, K., Moriyama, T., Shibagaki, Y., Kasahara, M., Narita, I., Yamagata, K., Tsuruya, K., Kondo, M., Asahi, K., Watanabe, T., Konta, T., & Watanabe, M. (2023). The effect of lifestyle on the mortality associated with respiratory diseases in the general population. Scientific reports, 13(1), 8272. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34929-8
- Sato T, Demura S, Murase T, Kobayashi Y. Contribution of physical fitness component to health status in middle-aged and elderly females. J Physiol Anthropol. 2007; 26(6) :569-577. doi:10.2114/jpa2.26.569
Background
Pulmonary function and physical fitness decline progressively with age, yet limited evidence exists on their inter-
relationship in middle-aged adults. Understanding this correlation is important for designing preventive strategies to
maintain respiratory health and functional capacity.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 adults aged 40–59 years, divided into four age groups (n=25 each).
Physical activity levels were assessed using the IPAQ, and pulmonary function was evaluated with spirometry, measuring
FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and MVV. Pearson correlation and ANOVA were applied for statistical analysis.
Results
People who were more active generally had better lung function, and this trend was especially clear in the youngest
subgroup (40–44 years) between IPAQ and FVC (r=0.41, p<0.05) and MVV (r=0.42, p<0.05). In older subgroups (45–59
years), correlations weakened and did not reach statistical significance. MVV demonstrated the strongest responsiveness to
physical activity, while FEV1/FVC ratios remained relatively stable across all groups.
Conclusion
Physical activity is positively associated with pulmonary function in early middle age, particularly influencing
ventilatory capacity and respiratory muscle strength. These associations diminish with advancing age, highlighting the
importance of maintaining regular physical activity from early middle age to mitigate age-related decline in pulmonary
health.
Keywords :
Pulmonary Function, Physical Activity, Middle-Aged Adults, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Age- Related Decline, Respiratory Health.