The main objectives of the study were: (i) evaluate respiratory muscle strength and lung function in elderly patients with anemia and compare data between both myelodysplastic syndromes and non-clonal anemias; (ii) evaluate the influence of serum IL-8 level and NF-kB activity in deteriorating respiratory muscle strength and lung function in this specific population. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is myelodysplastic syndrome.