FA patients exhibited significantly reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), alongside decreased maximal respiratory pressures (P < 0.01). A restrictive ventilatory pattern predominated. Peripheral oxygen saturation was lower in the FA group (P < 0.01).
Respiratory impairment appears mostly subclinical, suggesting that FA patients may be vulnerable to pulmonary infections and ventilatory failure. This dysfunction may reflect both neuromuscular weakness and impaired respiratory coordination. Early and regular respiratory assessment, together with preventive and rehabilitative strategies integrated into multidisciplinary care, may improve quality of life and potentially prolong survival in individuals with FA.
