Investigation of the relationship between cognitive function and upper extremity exercise capacity in COPD- a pilot study

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Associated with increased mortality, cognitive function in COPD is affected from hypoxia, hypercapnia, increased oxidative stress, physical inactivity, comorbidities. Although it has been shown that cognitive function is associated with functional capacity in COPD, there is no study examining its relationship with upper extremity exercise capacity in detail. <b>Aim:</b> It was aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive function and upper extremity exercise capacity in COPD. <b>Methods:</b> Twenty-seven patients (mean age:66.4±6.95 years, FEV1%:43.8±17.7) were included. The cognitive functions were evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MOCA), upper extremity exercise capacity was evaluated with the six-minute pegboard ring test (6PRT). The patients were divided into two groups as impaired cognitive function or normal. The independent-t-test and pearson correlation analysis were used for the statiscally analysis. <b>Results:</b> Seventeen (63%) of the patients had impaired cognitive function. Age, body mass index, pulmonary functions and 6PRT were similar (p&gt;0.05). While 6PRT score was not associated with MOCA score in the normal group (p&gt;0.05), 6PRT score of the impaired cognitive function group was correlated with total and attention scores of MOCA (r=0.525, p=0.030; r=0.640, p=0.006, respectively). <b>Conclusion:</b> It was found that upper extremity exercise capacity is associated with cognitive function in COPD with impaired cognitive function and it was concluded that it may be affected especially by attention. We think that the cognitive functions of COPD should also be taken into account when evaluating upper extremity exercise capacity.