Relationship Between The Respiratory Function With Motor Functionality In Duchenne Mucular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) shows the motor and respiratory impairment over time. Our study aimed to investigate the association between the respiratory function variables with motor function measure (MFM) scale in DMD patients over a 16-months follow-up. We used multiple linear regressions to investigate relationships between these variables in baseline and after 16-months. This is a prospective study with lung function assessment (FVC%pred) and maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP%pred, MEP%pred, respectively) besides nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP). Motor function was assessed by MFM scale. Were included 12 male patients (12.67±4.79 years); FVC%pred (70.58±22.41); MIP%pred (58.50±28.81); MEP%pred (44±16.13); SNIP%pred (49.08±21.84); and total MFM (58.34±32.11). After 16-months, there was a significant decrease in total MFM with loss of 7.57 points 95% CI [31.76-69.79], p=0.01; and in MIP%pred 10.09, 95% CI [30.82-65.35], p=0.02. There was a significative association between total MFM and respiratory function in all parameters before and after 16-months follow-up with r2=0.84, p=0.007; and r2= 0.77, p=0.019, respectively. Respiratory variables can predict the total score of MFM at both times, with a reduction after 16-months.