Thoracic kyphosis and ventilatory dysfunction in unselected older persons: an epidemiological study in Dicomano, Italy

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether kyphosis is associated with ventilatory dysfunction in older community dwellers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The unselected population of Dicomano, Italy aged>or=65 years. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 323 nonheart failure participants underwent clinical evaluation for the presence of kyphosis and spirometry. The severity of kyphosis was estimated from the difference between standing stature and knee-height-derived stature and from the occiput-wall distance. MEASUREMENTS: Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and prevalence of obstructive and restrictive ventilatory pattern. RESULTS: The 130 kyphotic participants (40.2%) had an adjusted 2.5 prevalence odds ratio (POR) for dyspnea (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1-5.8). FVC% and FEV1% were lower in the presence of kyphosis (P