Objective: To evaluate the relationship between respiratory muscle strength and limb function in elderly hospitalized patients. Methods: This study included 70 hospitalized elderly patients over the age of 60 years (43 men and 27 women). The assessment of limb muscle included limb muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle function. Muscle mass was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) was calculated after measurement. Limb muscle strength and limb function were assessed by handgrip strength (HGS), usual gait speed (UGS), and 5 times sit to stand test (FTSST). Respiratory muscle strength was addressed by maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) using a spirometer. The relationships between respiratory muscle strength and limb function were investigated using the Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: MIP was significantly positively correlated with ASMI and UGS (r=0.346, 0.332, both P<0.01), and was positively correlated with serum albumin and hemoglobin (r=0.264, 0.273, both P<0.05), and negatively correlated with age (r=−0.252, P<0.05). MEP was significantly positively correlated with ASMI, HGS, and UGS (r=0.357, 0.324, 0.330, all P<0.01). PEF was significantly positively correlated with ASMI, HGS, and UGS (r=0.334, 0.334, 0.346, all P<0.01), and positively correlated with ASMI and HGS (r=0.247, 0.284, respectively, both P<0.05). After adjusting for age, in the multiple regression analysis, MIP, MEP and PEF were significantly associated with UGS (β=0.319, 0.314, 0.318, respectively, all P<0.01); while ASMI was the independent factor of MIP (β=0.275, P<0.05). Conclusion: Respiratory muscle strength, especially inspiratory muscle strength is related to limb skeletal muscle mass. Respiratory muscle strength is significantly correlated with limb muscle function assessed by UGS.