TY - JOUR T1 - Effects of a community-based health program assessed by spirometry and body composition JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P1389 AU - Ritsuko Wakabayashi AU - Hideki Matsuki AU - Keiko Shimizu AU - Tomoko Kutsuzawa Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1389.abstract N2 - Background: Rapid aging of a population and change in lifestyles can cause an increase in chronic disease. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease is important to improve QOL, reduce the cost of care and health services.Objective: This study evaluates the effects of a community-based health program by measuring spiromety and body composition.Methods: A health program consisting of 15 lectures on healthy living and 24 leisure sport classes (i.e. stretching, table tennis) over 1-year. Subjects over 40 years of age and residing in the community could participate. Spirometry and body composition was evaluated before the program and at 1-year follow up.Results: Sixty-seven participants (male 21; female 46), with a mean age of 64.4±8.4, FEV1.0 of 2.3±0.5L and FEV1, %predict of 101.7±13.8% were included. Of the 67 subjects, 2 participants (3%) had an FEV1, %predict <70%. At one year follow up, 35 subjects remained (male 12; female 23). There was no difference seen between subjects who continued with the program and those who dropped-out for age, spiromety, weight or body composition Of the 35 continuing participants, mean FEV1, %predict significantly deteriorated to 81.4% (p<0.0001). Mean weight significantly increased however, mean muscle mass significantly decreased (p=0.005, p=0.025 respectively).Conclusion: This open program consisted of lectures and leisure sports without muscule training. There was no positive effect on spirometry or body composition and inevitably, a decline in pulmonary function was seen with age. This study reinforces the need for strength training focusing on upper and lower limbs to prevent a decline in pulmonary function. ER -