EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RESPIRATORY PHYSIOTHERAPY IN ALZHEIMER PATIENTS WITH LUNG DISEASE. PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

 Objectives: check effectiveness of respiratory Physiotherapy in patients with Alzheimer´s lung disease. To analyze the variables related to the improvement in treated patients according to sex, age, dyspnea and cough. Material and method: prospective observational study done in the Unit for Alzheimer’s Day Care La Estrella in Jaén, in which evaluated 20 patients treated at the Unit, lung capacity before and after physical therapy, with a peak flow meter. It took into account age, sex, dyspnea and cough. Inclusion criteria were to be a member of the Unit and to have as-sociated respiratory problems, to access the assessments under the research protocol, and complete the treatment period. Exclusion criteria: to be patient in the Unit and not have lung disease. Also excluded patients who discontinued treatment. Results: the mean improvement (p = 0.0115) in the spirometer measurement showed an increase in lung capacity of 20,25 L/min. Sex (p = 0.2896) and cough (p = 0.3116) had no significant effect improvement. The influence of age (p = 0.0220) is moderate. And, finally, the dyspnea (p = 0.0294) has good statistical evidence of improvement. The correlation between the beginning and the end is R2 = 0.8281 (p = -0.001). Conclusions: we found an improvement in Alzheimer´s patients who suffer from respiratory function after treatment for respiratory Physiotherapy. Sex and the type of cough do not have significant influence on the improvement, age moderately in-fluences, and dyspnea affects the result.