Background

Stroke is a medical condition with significant influence on daily life activities among its survivors who have residual motor deficit. The motor deficit could affect respiratory muscles and this can contribute to a reduction in ventilatory function. The study aimed to assess the spirometric abnormalities in stroke survivors and to explore its relationship with the degree of disability, the stroke type and the affected brain hemisphere.

Methods

It was a cross-sectional study among stroke survivors with brain CT scan confirmed stroke. The participants had spirometry done and interpreted based on the ATS/ERS criteria using MIR Intermedical Spirolab spirometer produced by Intermedical Limited UK.

Results

One hundred stroke survivors with a modified Rankin scale (mRS) range of 0–3 and with no underlying respiratory disease were involved in the study. The participants had a mean age of 64.5±8.6years and 82% of them had ischaemic stroke. Restrictive ventilatory pattern (seen in 43%) was the most common spirometric pattern observed among the participants. No significant relationship was observed between the spirometric pattern and the type of stroke (p=0.432). There was a significant relationship between the mRS score and the spirometric measurements (FVC z-score and FEV1 z-score); p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively. Respiratory symptoms occurred in 13% of the participants and those with respiratory symptoms had a significantly shorter duration since diagnosis of stroke compared to those without respiratory symptoms (p=0.032).

Conclusion

Restrictive ventilatory pattern is common among stroke survivors and their lung function reduces with increasing degree of disability.