Handgrip strength reflects excersice capacity and systemic inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Introduction: Muscle wasting is one of the important extrapulmonary features reflects exercise capacity and physical activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aims and Objectives: We analyzed correlations between muscle wasting and COPD severity, quality of life, and systemic inflammatory markers. Methods: Eighty patients with COPD were enrolled. Subjects were assessed the components of the BODE index (BMI, FEV 1 , mMRC and 6MWT) for COPD severity, handgrip strength and FFM for muscle wasting, CAT (COPD assessment test) score for quality of life, serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, hs-TNF-α for inflammatory markers at the same day of outpatient clinic visit. The average values of three consecutive handgrip strengths and the FFM were compared with BODE index, CAT score, serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF- and hs TNF-. Results: Both handgrip strength and FFM didn9t show significant correlation with BODE index score (handgrip strength: r=-0.148, p =0.189, FFM: r=-0.075, p =0.511) and CAT score (handgrip strength: r=-0.197, p =0.106, FFM: r=0.027, p =0.827). Handgrip strength showed significant correlations with mMRC (r=-0.331, p =0.003) and 6-minute walk distance(r=0.338, p =0.002). FFM showed positive correlation with serum hs-TNF- α (r = -0.288, p = 0.015). Handgrip strength presented positive correlations with serum hs-TNF- α (r= -0.309, p = 0.009) and IL-6 (r= -0.302, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Handgrip strength might be a useful method to assess the exercise capacity in COPD. Furthermore, handgrip strength showed positive correlation with systemic inflammation assessed by serum hs-TNF-α and IL-6 level.