Diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) has been used to identify diaphragm dysfunction. However, its correlations with respiratory strength and lung function are unclear, even in healthy patients. A total of 64 healthy patients (30 males) had lung function and inspiratory strength (maximal inspiratory pressure and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure) measured. Gastric and oesophageal pressures were measured in a subgroup (n = 40). DUS was characterized by mobility (quiet breathing [QB] and deep breathing [DB]) and thickness (at functional residual capacity [ThFRC] and total lung capacity [ThTLC]). We calculated the thickening fraction (TF). During QB, DUS was similar between sexes. However, during DB, females had lower mobility, thickness and TF than males. Mobility at DB, ThTLC and TF significantly correlated with lung function and inspiratory strength. These correlations were affected by sex. DUS correlated with inspiratory gastric pressure. In healthy patients, DUS correlated with lung function and inspiratory strength during DB. Significant differences between genders were noticeable when DUS was performed during DB.
Keywords: Diaphragm; Gender; Inspiratory muscles; Lung function; Ultrasound; Ventilatory muscle strength.
Copyright © 2018 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.