Abstract: Objective To analyze the characteristics of respiratory dysfunction and the correlation between respiratory dysfunction and articulation function in the elderly patients with stroke. Methods Twenty elderly patients with stroke admitted to Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2022 to April 2023 were enrolled in the observation group. At the same time, 20 healthy elderly were enrolled in the control group. Two groups received pulmonary function tests, respiratory muscle function and articulation function evaluation. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the correlation between respiratory function and articulation function. Results Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly reduced lung ventilation function, respiratory muscle function and articulation function (P<0.05). The maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) were significantly negatively correlated with the score of Frenchay dysarthria assessment (FDA),and significantly positively correlated with maximum phonation time (MPT) (P<0.05); Forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), MEP were positively correlated with maximum counting ability(MCA) in the observation group (P<0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that MIP and MEP were independent influencing factors of FDA score; FEV1 and MIP were independent influencing factors of MPT; FVC, PEF and MEP were independent influencing factors of MCA. Conclusions Respiratory function is significantly decreased in the elderly patients with stroke, and it may have an impact on articulation function. The decreases in FVC, FEV1, PEF, MIP and MEP may be risk factors for post-stroke articulation disorders.

Key words: aged, stroke, respiratory function, articulation function, correlation