Keywords
Wind instruments
Peak expiratory flow
Cardiovascular capacity
Exercise stress test
How to Cite
Abstract
Purpose: To analyze the difference in cardiopulmonary function between wind instrument musicians and the general population of Libertador San Martín, Diamante, Argentina, between April and May 2026.
Method: This is a quantitative, analytical, cross-sectional, observational, and retrospective study. A non-probability convenience sample of 57 participants aged 18 to 50 years was used, divided into 29 musicians and 28 individuals from the general population. Pulmonary function was assessed via Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), and cardiovascular capacity was evaluated using a treadmill exercise test following the Bruce Protocol. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon tests.
Results: When comparing the two groups, no statistically significant differences were found regarding peak exercise capacity (U = 332.0; p = 0.232), maximum time achieved (U = 294.5; p = 0.075), or METs attained (U = 319.0; p = 0.149). Within each group, physical exertion induced significant physiological changes (p < 0.05), increasing blood pressure and heart rate while reducing oxygen saturation. Analysis of delta values demonstrated that hemodynamic stability and post-exertion gasometric responses were statistically homogeneous between the two groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Regular practice of wind instruments does not result in significant differences in pulmonary function parameters or cardiovascular capacity compared to the general population evaluated.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ariel Perez Buchhammer, Angela Dorr (Autor)