Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran
2 Exercise Physiology (PhD)TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Germany
3 Department of Physiotherapy, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
4 Professor of Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to compare respiratory parameters and sleep quality between physically active and inactive young adult males, while exploring correlations between these domains.
Methods: Pulmonary function—including forced vital capacity (FVC), vital capacity (VC), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), percentage predicted FEV1 (%FEV1), and maximum expiratory flows at 25% and 75% of FVC (MEF25%, MEF75%)—was evaluated via spirometry (Fukuda ST-95) per American Thoracic Society guidelines. Sleep quality was quantified using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Results: Active participants displayed superior respiratory metrics (p < 0.05): higher FVC (p = 0.023), VC (p = 0.002), MVV (p = 0.001), FEV1 (p = 0.001), %FEV1 (p = 0.001), MEF25% (p = 0.026), and MEF75% (p = 0.042). PSQI scores were significantly lower (better) in the active group (4.13 ± 1.18) versus inactive (6.53 ± 2.50; p = 0.002). No baseline differences emerged in age, height, weight, heart rate, fat percentage, or BMI (p > 0.05). In the active group, each 1-unit increase in FEV1, MVV, VC, FVC, and MEF75% was associated with corresponding reductions in sleep quality scores of 0.217, 0.127, 0.370, 0.386, and 0.194 units, respectively (all p > 0.05).
Conclusion: These findings advocate exercise as a non-pharmacological strategy for addressing sleep and pulmonary health, warranting larger, diverse studies to elucidate interactions.
Main Subjects
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