The Portuguese-language versions of the PFSDQ-M and the MRC scale proved reproducible and valid for use in patients with COPD in Brazil.

In COPD patients, MVV better reflects the physical activity level in daily life than FEV(1) and IC.

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Objective: To evaluate pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in chronic renal failure patients, correlating these variables with hemodialysis-related weight fluctuation; to study the correlation between the duration of hemodialysis and potential respiratory alterations. Methods: Seventeen patients (median age, 47 years; interquartile range, 41-52 years), submitted to three weekly hemodialysis sessions for a median of 27 months (interquartile range, 14-55) were evaluated. Twelve of the patients were male. The patients underwent spirometry. Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured prior to and after the first hemodialysis session of the week. Body weight was quantified prior to and after each of the three weekly sessions. Results: Before the first hemodialysis session of the week, 8 patients presented mild restrictive defect, which normalized after the session in 2 of those patients. After dialysis, there was a significant increase in forced vital capacity (p = 0.02) and a significant decrease in body weight (p = 0.0001). Weight fluctuation over 3 days without hemodialysis tended to correlate with the variation in forced vital capacity in the first weekly session (r = 0.47; p = 0.055). Duration of hemodialysis correlated with predialysis MIP (r = −0.3; p = 0.03) and MEP (r = −0.63; p = 0.006). Conclusions: More pronounced weight gain in the interdialytic period is associated with worsening of lung function, which is almost fully reversible by hemodialysis. In addition, longer duration of hemodialysis is associated with decreased respiratory muscle strength.Keywords: Spirometry; Respiratory muscles/physiopathology; Kidney failure, chronic; Renal dialysis. ResumoObjetivo: Avaliar a função pulmonar e a força muscular respiratória de pacientes com doença renal crônica e correlacioná-las com a variação de peso ligada à realização de hemodiálise; estudar a correlação entre o tempo de hemodiálise e possíveis alterações respiratórias. Métodos: Foram avaliados 17 pacientes (mediana de idade, 47 anos; intervalo interquartílico, 41-52 anos) submetidos a três sessões semanais de hemodiálise (mediana de tempo, 27 meses; intervalo interquartílico, 14-55). Doze eram do sexo masculino. Realizaram espirometria e mensuração das pressões máximas inspiratória (PImáx) e expiratória (PEmáx) antes e após a primeira sessão semanal de hemodiálise. O peso corporal foi quantificado antes e após as três sessões semanais. Resultados: Oito pacientes apresentaram distúrbio restritivo leve antes da primeira sessão de hemodiálise. Desses, 2 normalizaram após a sessão. Houve aumento da capacidade vital forçada (p = 0,02) e diminuição de peso (p = 0,0001) ao final da primeira sessão semanal. A variação de peso durante três dias sem hemodiálise tendeu a se correlacionar com a variação da capacidade vital forçada na primeira sessão (r = 0,47; p = 0,055). O tempo de hemodiálise correlacionou-se com os valores da porcentagem do predito da PImáx (r = −0,53; p = 0,03) e com a PEmáx (r = −...

Adult smokers without airflow obstruction presented reduced level of daily physical activity. Functional exercise capacity, extended fatigue sensation, aspects of motivation/physical activity behaviour and self-reported cardiac disease are significant determinants of physical activity in daily life in smokers.