Association between body composition, sarcopenia and pulmonary function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Background Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive and irreversible airflow limitation. Different factors that modify pulmonary function include age, sex, muscular strength, and a history of exposure to toxic agents. However, the impact of body composition compartments and sarcopenia on pulmonary function is not well-established. This study aimed to evaluate how body composition compartments and sarcopenia affect pulmonary function in COPD patients. Methods In a cross-sectional study, patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD, > 40 years old, and forced expiratory volume in the first second /forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC) < 0.70 post-bronchodilator were included. Patients with cancer, HIV, and asthma were excluded. Body composition was measured with bioelectrical impedance. Sarcopenia was defined according to EWGSOP2, and pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry. Results 185 patients were studied. The mean age was 72.20 ± 8.39 years; 55.14% were men. A linear regression adjusted model showed associations between body mass index, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass index, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index, and phase angle (PhA), and sarcopenia with FEV1 (%). As regards FVC (%), PhA and exercise tolerance had positive associations. Conclusion Body composition, especially PhA, SMMI, ASMMI, and sarcopenia, has a significant impact on pulmonary function. Early detection of disturbances of these indexes enables the early application of such therapeutic strategies in COPD patients.

The Association between the Respiratory System and Upper Limb Strength in Males with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A New Field for Intervention?

“…Interestingly, studies conducted on a healthy population of young [ 30 ] middle-aged adults [ 27 ] and healthy elderly [ 12 , 31 ] also indicate the relationship between hand grip strength and FEV1 and FVC. Even if the study examined only the muscle mass (evaluated by bioelectrical impedance) without hand grip strength, it also confirmed associations between pulmonary and upper limb function [ 26 ].…”

“…The nature of the association between hand grip strength and lung function remains unclear, although studies also confirm this relationship in patients with other diseases [ 24 , 25 ] and even in healthy persons [ 26 , 27 ]. For example, research on neuromuscular diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), showed that FVC% correlate positively with the upper limb function measured with the revised upper limb module (RULM) [ 28 ].…”

Probiotics: Protecting Our Health from the Gut

“…It is considered a chronic degenerative disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms, airflow limitation, and the development of emphysema. The main etiologic factors are smoking and exposure to harmful gasses or particles, in combination with genetic factors [ 211 ].…”

Body Composition and COPD: A New Perspective

“… 117 Men were more likely to have a low PhA than women (4.9 (1.0) vs 4.3 (0.9); p<0.001), 118 and it was inversely correlated with age and the severity of the disease (r = 0.37, p<0.001), 119 PhA has been discovered to be significantly higher in overweight people 116 and recent research reveals that PhA and FEV1 are positively associated. 119 However, research has showed that PhA levels drop after muscle damage, suggesting that changes in bodily fluids occur along with cell membrane failure. In general, high PhA indicates the integrity of the cell membrane, whereas low PhA suggests cell death or diminished function, 120 as well as inadequate nourishment and a poor prognosis for illness.…”