Abstract
BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has significant systemic effects that substantially impact quality of life and survival. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare peripheral muscle strength and endurance, exercise capacity, fatigue perception and quality of life between patients with COPD and healthy subjects.MethodsTwenty COPD patients (mean FEV1 49.3 ± 19.2%) and 20 healthy subjects were included in the study. Pulmonary function testing and six-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed. Peripheral muscle strength was measured with a hand-held dynamometer, peripheral muscle endurance was evaluated with sit-ups, squats and modified push-ups tests. Fatigue perception was assessed using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). General quality of life was determined with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), and cough-specific quality of life was evaluated with the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ).ResultsPulmonary functions, strength of shoulder abductor and flexor muscles, numbers of sit-ups and squats, 6MWT distance and 6MWT% were significantly lower in COPD patients than in healthy subjects (p < 0.05). FIS psychosocial sub-dimension and total scores, NHP scores for all sub-dimensions except pain sub-dimension of the COPD group were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects (p < 0.05). The LCQ physical, psychological and social sub-dimensions and total scores were significantly lower in COPD patients than in healthy subjects (p < 0.05).ConclusionsPulmonary functions, peripheral muscle strength and endurance, exercise capacity and quality of life were adversely affected in patients with COPD. There are greater effect of fatigue on psychosocial functioning and general daily life activities and effect of cough on the quality of life in patients with COPD. This study supports the idea that COPD patients must be evaluated in a comprehensive manner for planning pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Highlights
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has significant systemic effects that substantially impact quality of life and survival
This study shows that upper extremity muscle strength, abdominal and quadriceps muscle endurance and exercise capacity were reduced compared to healthy subjects in a group of patients with COPD mostly in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages II and III
In conclusion, this study showed that in a patient group with mainly moderate and severe COPD experience a loss of peripheral muscle strength and endurance, exercise capacity and general quality of life compared to healthy controls
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has significant systemic effects that substantially impact quality of life and survival. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare peripheral muscle strength and endurance, exercise capacity, fatigue perception and quality of life between patients with COPD and healthy subjects. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Skeletal muscle weakness is one of the major systemic effects of COPD and associated with the loss of lean body mass [2,3]. When comparing isometric quadriceps strength between patients with COPD and age-and-sex-matched healthy controls, a 20-30% loss in muscle strength and a tendency to fatigue in the muscle were found [4]. Seven controlled studies in COPD reported a loss of muscular endurance greater than that of skeletal muscle strength [2]. Exercise tolerance as assessed by both a maximal exercise test and a 6minute walk test (6MWT) was shown to be lower than in people with COPD than in sedentary healthy subjects [6]
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