Characteristics of impaired voluntary cough function in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Although cough impairment (dystussia) is common in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and contributes to a reduced physiologic capacity to defend the airway, characteristics of dystussia have not yet been delineated. Therefore, we aimed to compare voluntary cough spirometry airflow patterns between individuals with ALS and healthy age and gender-matched controls.

Methods

Thirty-two individuals with a diagnosis of probable-definite ALS (El-Escorial Criterion) and 29 healthy age and gender-matched controls underwent voluntary cough spirometry testing. Two blinded raters derived six objective voluntary cough airflow measures including: peak inspiratory phase duration, peak inspiratory flow rate, compression phase duration, peak expiratory rise time,

SUBMITTER: Tabor-Gray LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6513719 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature