•  
  •  
 

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Translated Title

慢性療養機構住民之肺功能評估

Abstract

The study was designed to determine the extent of significant pulmonary　dysfunction in selected residents of chronic care facilities, to find out any relationhip between pulmonary dysfunction and general disability, and explore pulmonary treatment options.Thirty-six nursing facility residents over 80 year old, or with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or generalized neurological or neuromuscular disease, were surveyed for extent of disability and pulmonary dysfunction. By comparison with age, height, and sex norms, there were significant restrictive pulmonary syndrome, poor inspiratory muscle strength and endurance and inadequate airway secretion clearance mechanisms in all of the residents studied. In addition, at least eight residents manifested chronic alveolar hypoventilation. Four residents with severe restrictive pulmonary syndromes were misdiagnosed as having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The extent of pulmonaary dysfunction significantly correlated with the extent of general disability. We conclude that chronic alveolar hypoventilation and respiratory muscle insufficiency appear to be under diagnosed and under treated in residents of chronic care facilities. The failure to institute appropriate nonivasive interventions may lead to increased pulmonary morbidity in this patient population.

Language

English

First Page

67

Last Page

73

Download

Share

COinS